Anatomy

Ru is a long-stemmed shrub with dark green leaves and light yellow flowers. The flowers have 6 to 12 petals.

Ecology and Habitats

Ru is found everywhere north of the Kugma mountains. It grows especially well in the shrublands south of Lake Raro, but it also grows in the coldest parts of the taiga where the Veinhouses live. It requires very little water and is very easily overwatered, so it thrives in droughts when other plants are struggle.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Ru is used as an herb, especially in Raron cooking. It has a sweet taste, but it is also very spicy, as chewing the flowers literally creates small bursts of flame in the mouth. To minimize danger while maximizing flavor, ru is grown until the flowers reach the size of an average sela hand (approx. 1') and then drowned for a short period of time. After drowning, the flowers are less capable of storing heat.

There's a certain time of the year when it is common to see ru used as lanterns, when the night is hot enough to set it ablaze. It often burns out before the heat of the day returns.