Broken Heart Berry
Basic Information
Anatomy
Broken heart berries are native to the Spring Kingdom in the Feywild and therefore are considered a celestial plant species. The berries grow on a bush with tough, woody branches. It can grow 2-3 feet high and 1-2 feet wide. The branches have tan bark and gray-green, shiny leaves with sharp points. The berries are preceded by dark red, bell-shaped flowers with tan edges which turn into the signature dark red, hear-shaped berries. As the berries ripen and grow, the skin splits to reveal the bright red flesh inside. This gives the appearance of a broken heart and gives the berries their name.
Genetics and Reproduction
The seeds of the broken heart berry are the size of a grain of sand and one berry can hold hundreds of seeds. Broken heart berries either reproduce when the berries are eaten by animals and the seeds are deposited in the animal's feces or, if the berries are left on the bush for their full lifespan, the berries will explode and scatter their seeds.
Ecology and Habitats
Though the berry bushes grow slowly relative to other plants in the Spring Kingdom, they are hardy and tenacious so they're rarely pushed out by other plants. In fact, celestial botanists have observed that the berry bush's roots will twine around weaker plants' roots and suffocate them if they're too close together. As a result, broken heart berries are usually found at the base of large trees who are unaffected by the bush's roots.
Biological Cycle
Since the broken heart berries grow in the Spring Kingdom, the berries' growth pattern is not tied to the changes in the season. Rather, the bush grows from seed to maturity in about 2 years, but then it goes from bud to flower in about 2 months and from flower to ripe berry in another 3 months. Any berries that stay on the bush after their skin has split will explode in one week. Once all the berries are gone from the plant, the bush is dormant for a month before starting the cycle over again.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Broken heart berries have a bittersweet taste when eaten raw or cooked. However, in the Feywild, the berries are most frequently used to make alcohol. When aged for at least 10-12 years, the berries form an extremely potent wine that allow fey to experience a mortal sense of loss while also getting drunk.
While most fey find this experience novel but not particularly upsetting, if a mortal drinks broken heart wine, they will feel the sense of loss tenfold. People who have experienced it compare it to the emotion triggered when you first find out that your spouse has died suddenly. However, if you can withstand that, apparently mortals experience a euphoric high for several hours afterwards.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Found in the Spring Kingdom in the Feywild, usually near old growth trees
Lifespan
70 years
Average Height
3-4 feet
Average Length
1-2 feet
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