Mūcrōnifilium rubēscēns
Blushing blade-leaf
(Ruddy blood-leaf, vampire herb)
X
30-40 cm in height.
Hematophagous.
Originally Mediterranean, but has spread to
central Europe as well.
Similar to nettle plants with smooth edged leaves.
Usually only a few reddish leaves among its bright green foliage.
The leaves are extremely sharp, and can cut through skin, as well as some fabrics and even fur.
The cuts stings, it rarely do more damage than a papercut.
Mūcrōnifilium rubēscēns belongs to a group of silvidae magions that are characterized by thin, hardened leaves with sharp edges (Mūcrōnifilium, or blade-leaf). Like other members of the group, Mūcrōnifilium rubēscēns leaves are sharp enough to cut skin, even through the cover of fur or clothing. They have been compared to certain non-magical plants, like sword-grass, however, these silvidae plants do not use their sharp-edged leaves for protection, they use it for feeding.
The leaf edge creates a small cut in a passing animal, and blood is absorbed from the edge of the leaf into the plant. In Mūcrōnifilium rubēscēns, this proces is visible as the absobed blood changed the color of the leaf from green to red, hence the “blushing” in its name. As the blood is absorbed, the leaf returnes to its green colour.
Mūcrōnifilium rubēscēns has long been used in potion making and healing traditions. It is also known to be used by parasitical magic practitioners.
