Floratober 2019 - Tumblr Posts

Inktober 2019 #1 - Spotil

A bit of a throwback to my Inktober 2014 adventures. 

The month of October is called Spotilan on the JI Planet, named for the staple fruit of the Amicans. The Spotil has a consistency, texture and flavor somewhere in the range between an apple and a potato. Perhaps that sounds gross, but the Amicans never tire of it.

Inktober 2019 #2 - Crespetalia Flower

Still going with the throwback idea, though the Crespetalia actually comes from a piece I retouched back in 2015 rather than ‘14.

Crespetalias are an iconic flower of the continent of Crescent Minoria of the JI Planet. The orb in the center is actually a delicacy, tasting reminiscent of cherry candy. The rest of the plant, though quite decorative, is not favored for eating.

Inktober 2019 #3 - Loopspeed Flowervine

Another throw back to this drawing from Inktober 2014.

The Loopspeed Flowervine is an unusual plant that grows in the Great Buddy Highlands and Great Buddy Mountains.

Its leaves grow as if the plant is in motion, and it does grow quite fast- three days from seed to flower. It is rumored the leaves change position at night, leading some to believe the plant really can move.

The petals are beloved for their spicy, cinnamon-like taste and aroma. The leaves also have a similar taste and aroma, but are on the whole much milder than the petals. In tea they are often used to compliment the taste of the petals and give them a richer taste. 

Inktober 2019 - Yura Aquabulla

a.k.a. Yura Waterbubble Plants, Yurayura Aquabulla

Found particularly in the Great Buddy Lake and River, though they can also be found in the lesser lakes and rivers of Laykia Layna.

Yura Aquabullas are popular commodities among Buddys. They make for quick, portable sources of water, and when stored with caution, can last a long time.

Inktober 2019 #5: Flufftuffs

Grows wild in the Great Buddy Forest and in some other wooded areas. Beloved by Fashion Buddys for the wooly fibers that can be produced from the tufts.

Inktober 2019 #6: Rinrin Boubou Flower I really struggled a lot coming up with the color scheme for this flower. Apparently I never made notes for what colors it was supposed to be in the original drawings! I have a feeling the main flower was supposed to be yellow, but it looked too bland with all three flowers the same color. That and I couldn’t seem to get it to look right :/ It was too overblown. I managed to tamp it down a little for this, but yeah. Maybe I should have tried yellow with white mini blossoms? Anyways...

The Rinrin Boubou is considered a rather clumsy flower. it oozes honey from the centers of its dangling flowers during its fruiting season, leading some to believe that this substance is somehow the materials for fruits that didn't quite form. There may be some truth to this theory, as the substance, when cooked, forms a substance like sweet scrambled eggs. Uncooked however, the substance is beloved as a sweetener for tea, and during fruiting season, cups of tea can often be seen placed below the oozing flowers to capture the honey for sweetening.

Inktober 2019 #7: Song Tulip The namesake of Batulia Songlianne, the northernmost continent. The Song Tulip is a legendary flower that is said to hold a very small Fairy Buddy within its petals. The flower gives off a soft red glow and a faint hum, and is warm enough to melt the snow surrounding it. For this and other reasons, the Song Tulip is considered sacred in those parts. It is not to be plucked or used in any way, lest the fairy within it be disturbed.

Inktober 2019 #8: Usu Honeyblossoms The nectar of these flowers are sweet but watery. It can be boiled down however to create a fragrant, very sweet honey to use for sweetening tea, cooking pastries, or as a drizzle in certain dishes.

Inktober 2019 #9: Wingilana Skyplantona

Native to the Sky Buddy World, Wingilanas are cultivated for their rich, golden nectar. It is beloved by Winged Buddys, and a jar of the substance makes a wonderful hospitality gift between Sky and Land Buddys.  

Inktober 2019 #10:  Windia Flowana This flower feeds on the power of the wind. It seems most comfortable in areas where it can get a lot of wind, but can be coaxed to grow in other areas as well. However, not enough wind will cause the flower to close and the leaves to curl up against the stem. An especially windless Windia flower will droop, and may even disappear into the ground.

Inktober 2019 #11: Skaepara Plant

The fruit of the Skaepara Plant is well-known for the map-like patterns on its surface. It is favored for decorative purposes and dyeing for its magnificent blue color. It is edible, but not particularly favored by Amicans. The leaves also may only be good for filler in tea, and are instead preferred for decorative and fashion purposes.

Inktober 2019 #12: Chuvine Duplant A rare plant from a lonely island out at sea. The leaves are used for ceremonial teas, and is often sought after by couples. Bilone Bien Island, the home of this rare plant, is a popular destination for special dates and marriages, as its said that the couple who finds a Chuvine Duplant will be blessed.

Inktober 2019 #13: Featherfruit Flower

A rare, slow-growing flower that grows fruit where the leaves should be. Featherfruits are famously beloved by Buddys, though not everyone cares for them. They make great fruit leather, or can be cooked to use in dishes whole. They are juicy when big, though younger fruits are a little hard. It’s best to leave the small fruits on until they ripen, long though their growing season may be.

Inktober 2019 #14: Sweetpetal Flyona Cultivated in Sky Buddy World for its namesake petals. They are a common sweetener there popular in tea. They are exported for the annual Tea Festival, held primarily in central Wing Alayna. The petals melt easily into tea, and are thus very convenient, especially for an often-exported item.

Inktober 2019 #15: Balkavine

A plant renowned and admired for its toughness. Despite its tough exterior, the fruit is quite juicy and flavorful, even sweet. However, plants that fruit during a prolonged rain will have a mealier taste, a bit like a large blueberry. The sweeter ones especially are often enjoyed in cooking.

Inktober 2019 #16: Kuana Plania An unusual plant, even for Crescent Minoria. It takes in very little moonlight via its glowing bits. Instead, it relies on its deep root system to find nutrients hidden far beneath the continent's low-nutrient top soil. However, due to this, the plant stays very small in its first stage of life until its roots can find proper nutrition. It's glowing bits are also larger then, gradually shrinking as the roots locate nutrients. Once they have found sufficient soil, the little plant can grow very rapidly to its mature size.

Inktober 2019 #17: Flarowan Pikana A blossom that prefers warm summer nights. It stores up energy in the day and releases it at night in a brilliant display. They are beloved sights during the Tea Festival, particularly on drier nights. On days when it rains it will not open much at night, and give off little energy. The petals are actually sweeter when giving off energy, so they are preferred prepared and served quickly. The petals will continue to glow after they are plucked, but only for three hours. That is why a quick preparation and serving are optimal for sweeter teas.

Inktober 2019 #18: Inkpetal Dyenas

As the name implies, these flowers contain strong ink dyes, favored by Fashion Buddys for creating thick, vibrant colors. They can, of course, obtain dyes from a variety of other sources, but Inkpetals are longer-lasting than other available dyes and can be used to create colorful inks as well. 

Inktober 2019 #19: Harianas A coastal flower growing along the seasides of Wing Alayna, Fuline and Reline Ah and their islands. Though the hairs on the plant are commonly thought to be petals, they are closer to modified leaves. Not much is known in the way of use for the Harianas, but natives have dried them and used them as combs and scrub brushes.

Inktober 2019 #20: Sappora Flower An unusual flower with few known uses. Its appeal is mostly in its aesthetics, and it is surprisingly easy to care for. The flower can grow indoors or outdoors, but is much more vigorous outdoors, or if put out to sun at least during the day. In spite of its bright pink petals, it is not very sweet. The leaves, too, are bland. It is best appreciated visually than gastronomically.