Yurushihana

Yurushihana is a flowering shrub native to Yuriba. The blossoms of this shrub are also known as yurushihana. The name is a neologism coined from Japanese words meaning "forgiveness" and "flower". The original name given to the plant by the natives is not currently known.

Appearance

Yurushihana is best known for its vibrant blue five-petaled blossoms. The interior of the flower greatly resembles the structure of a rose, indicating a relationship between yurushihana and the Rosa genus. Its woody stems are festooned with numerous sickle-shaped thorns, similar to a rose but more numerous. The dark green, pinnate leaves of the plant (another resemblance to Rosa species) are retained year-round, making yurushihara an evergreen species.

If a stem is cut from the main shrub, the thorns on the stem will come loose and drop off, but only if they have been touched with blood. This factors into the culture and mythology surrounding the blossoms.

Location

Yurushihana grows in only a few specific, isolated and remote regions of the island. Each of these locations is extremely difficult to reach on foot. The plant will not grow outside of these locations. The key to these locations, what allows them to support yurushihana, is as yet unknown.

Historical Culture

The blue blossoms of the yurushihara have historically been given by the natives of Yuriba as a request for forgiveness. To give another a yurushihana in order to ask forgiveness was considered the most sincere request possible. In obtaining a yurushihana, the giver was forced to endure hardship in both reaching the plant and in taking the flower itself.

Traditionally, a yurushihana should be given with all thorns removed from the stem by the touch of the blood of the giver. The stem itself should be at least nine inches in length.

The giving of yurushihana was a rare act. Giving yurushihana too often was seen as a sign not only of insincerity, in that obtaining the blossom should be an act of sacrifice for the giver and doing so repeatedly indicated that the giver did not see it as such, but also wastefulness, in that the blossoms are exceedingly rare.

At least one local myth revolves around a pair of lovers each seeking yurushihara for the other after a grave misunderstanding between them. Upon seeing each other again and presenting each other with the flowers, the pair realized the depths of their love and were soon married, a bond which lasted the rest of their lives.

Yurushihana and Angstflower

Yurushihana has a supernatural aversion to angstflower. All of yurushihana's known locations are at least a mile removed from any angstflower vines. Should even a freshly-picked angstflower blossom be brought within this mile-radius limit of a yurushihana shrub, the yurushihana will begin to wither and, within a full day, will die if the angstflower is not removed. No further yurushihana will grow in that location unless all angstflowers are removed from the limit zone.

Ingestion

The yurushihana is inedible in any part and, while not fatal, is mildly toxic. Ingestion of the blossoms, leaves or stems will leave the eater with gastrointestinal distress.