R&D - Zandalari Alchemical Notes - “Sea Stalks”
“Sea Stalks”
Sea Stalks are some of the most magically interesting and plentiful herbs harvestable along the shores of both Zandalar and Kul Tiras. They are associated with a sentimental ritual which is, bizarrely, shared between both sets of seafaring peoples. A naturally occurring magical bond exists between both stalk and flower, feeding the latter from the former over impossible distances. It is folk practice for a sailor departing on a long journey to extend the severed flower to their loved ones, taking the stalk with them on their journey; If the ship is destroyed, the stalk will be drowned in seawater. The flower will die, indicating to their loved ones their fate.
APPEARANCE) Sea Stalks grow in fledgling patches of ten (10) to twenty (20) stalks, encased in waxy flares of grass immediately discernable from the sand from which it sprouts. Young stalks are pale in color and topped with a thumb-sized, off-brown bud tightly-bound shut. The tuberous stalk will grow to roughly twice its length when it begins to bloom and the pod will have grown to roughly one-and-a-half its original mass. A Sea Stalk is ready for harvest when its flower has bloomed and its petals demonstrate a pale pink hue toward the center with darker magenta coloration along the edges. A typical flower has five thumbnail-sized petals which are rounded on the outside. Its pistil is short and close to the inside of the plant, whereas its stamen all rise high beyond the petals, powder-pink and outstretched toward the sky. The stalk beneath is thick and plasticky, comparable to a straw, and colored a very deep, dark-green.
The flower is beautiful and deceptively sturdy. The stalk itself is extremely hydrated, crunching when bitten into and resembling garden-variety celery. The fluid inside is distastefully sour.
LOCATION) The Sea Stalk patches can be discovered plentifully along any coastline in Zandalar and Kul Tiras and are found equally on sandy and rocky terrain, but rarely within the reach of the tide.
HARVESTING/USES) A Sea Stalk is an extremely survivable plant, coming up in surrounding patches like crabgrass whether or not it has been overharvested. While it is ideal to wait until the flower has bloomed to attempt to harvest the stalks, an immature stalk can be plucked and utilized in a pinch. Instead of cutting the stem, seize the base of the stalk closes to its sprouted grass between thumb and pointer finger and gently pull until it is uprooted. Pluck the roots from the bottom of the stalk and immediately store in a wet place. It is not necessary to separate the flower from the plant at this point and it is, in fact, advisable to keep an inventory of each stalk’s bloom.
Given the state of arcane understanding amongst the natives of both great nations compared to the understanding of the Horde, it can be safely assumed that the true magical potential of the Sea Stalks plant remains unexplored. However, it can be currently found in brews wherein versatility is required, especially in potions which demand to invoke its mystical properties. ‘The Potion of Rising Death’, ‘The Sea Mist Potion’ and ‘Demitri’s Draught of Deception’ are only a sample of its more popular uses on both continents.
Beyond being an indicator of the plant’s readiness-for-harvest, the flower serves no culinary or alchemical purpose; though it might be dried and utilized for its appealing pigmentation. However, due to the department’s developing understanding of the Sea Stalk and its uses, I must again encourage that the flowers be accounted for in some fashion if at all possible. If the flower dies, the connection to the stalk will sever and the plant will attempt to repair itself and produce another flower.
STORAGE) As previously stated, the Sea Stalk is an extremely hardy plant, survivable in any situation wherein it can continue to receive hydration. Trauma to the underside of the stalk will, however, prevent transpiration. If properly harvested as instructed in this document, place the stalk in a container half-filled with fresh water, bottom-submerged and severed half facing up. Several stalks can be stored in the same container or in a bound-bundle as long as the water-contents of their container are being monitored. Sea Stalk can be used in its whole stalk or clipped in segments from the top-down; The plant will not grow beyond where it has been initially snipped. The survival of the flower relies on the survival of the stalk but not the other way around. If necessary, the flower can be stored in all reasonable conditions.
As of the time of this documentation, we have witnessed no death or withering of any healthy and properly-stored Sea Stalk samples nor any sign of decay.
