Waking Lotusroot

Waking lotusroot is a species of waterlily native to southwestern Asia. Although its origins are unclear due to multiple introductions throughout the region, it is distinct from other water lilies and lotus plants for its distinct appearance- Waking lotusroots only bloom at dawn, and typically will close their flowers by mid afternoon. They also have a distinct lily pad that is ovoid in shape, with a thick waxy leaf. Roots of the plant are wide and spindly, anchoring around other plant roots, rocks, and fallen logs with thin fluffy tendrils.

Primarily, the plants reproduce through budding infant plants from the 'mother', that go through a period of free floating before they anchor themselves into the soil. Seeds of the plant are quite rare, as most typically do not live long enough to produce seeds. As a result, the vast majority of the wild population are clones, estimated to trace back to 27 individual plants introduced in India in 19,201. Prior to budding, the plant will grow thick bulbs infused with magic, fueling the mother plant and infant buds' growth. Should conditions in the water change, and no further magic be available, the plant will instead cut off and release its buds early, and begin to metabolize the stored magic.   A survey in 18,106 found that the vast majority of wild waking lotusroot did begin to cannibalize their own magic stores, rather than reproduce, due to low magic contamination thanks to global cleanup efforts for polluted regions.

Exclusively growing in magic contaminated water sources, waking lotusroot is quite rare in the wild. It favors acidic water with poor nutrients, as the plant primarily gets its energy from magical sources rather than the sun, though will oftentimes switch to producing sugars via photosynthesis if magical sources are not available in the short term. This survival tactic does not work over long periods of time, however, and is known to eventually starve the plant entirely.

The plant is commonly grown in captivity as both a measure of controlling magic in sun koi fisheries as well as for cleaning up magic pollutants in water sources. Waking lotusroot can quickly absorb and store magic into itself without releasing it back into the environment due to the bulbs the plant will grow in order to bud new plants, making it an excellent natural solution to magic contamination.   Dried bulbs of the plant commonly keep their absorbed magical properties, and can be cooked and eaten as a magic supplement, as long as the stored magic within them is pure. Some regions of the world, particularly in south-eastern Asia, purposefully grow the plant for this purpose. Dried lotus bulbs can also be used as a decorative garnish to a dish, and if ground into a powder or thinly peeled, smoked for a pleasant release of potent magic. The latter use is oftentimes done as a home remedy to Depleted Aura Sickness.

Sun Koi are commonly kept with the plant, as it is commonly used to prevent overexposure of magic. Ponds and wellsprings covered in the plant are a tell-tale sign of overactive wellsprings, and poor maintenance.