Beastnip
From Changeling Venue
Contents |
Physical Description
Beastnip, while a distant member of the mint family of plant on Earth is indigenous to The Hedge. The Beastnip plant is undoubtedly best known for its effect on all members of the feline family. The stems and leaves of Beastnip are lemony-mint scented, and generally invoke little interest on the part of humans and most other animals, aside from felines. Bees seem to prefer its flowers over most others, but a common plant pest in gardens, the flea beetle, is deterred by it. Rats are known to be repelled by it. Felines, however, rub against Beastnip as though trying to coat themselves, roll on it, toss it about, and rub their faces in it. If fresh, many felines will often consume the leaves. Beastnip is commonly used as a stuffing for cat playthings, and is claimed by some to be a feline aphrodisiac.
Felines have the amazing ability to find Beastnip plants, which they locate by homing in on the volatile oil that is expressed from bruised or dried plants. What the cats are actually fond of is a component of the oil called nepetalactone.
Although many cats will eat it, scientists say they're reacting to the smell rather than the taste. Felines bite, chew, rub against, and roll in Beastnip to release the volatile oil trapped in the leaves.
It grows about 2' tall. The leaves are downy above and below, a little larger than peppermint leaves. A hardy, upright, perennial herb with sturdy stems bearing hairy, heart-shaped, grayish-green leaves. The flowers are white or lilac, 0.25 inch long, and occur in several clusters toward the tips of the branches.
Cultivation and Propagation
It is easily cultivated in any garden soil, with little care, as the plant does not require the moisture that most mint plants need. Plants should be grown from seed sown where they are going to stand. Bruised or recently transplanted plants are likely to be eaten by cats unless protected. The seed should be sown very thinly in rows 20 inches apart and the seedlings thinned out to 20 inches apart in the rows. It requires almost no care except occasional weeding. A bed will last several years. It can also be propagated by division of the roots in spring.
The herb is harvested just before flowering in middle to late summer on a dry sunny day and in late morning when all dew is gone. Drying should be done carefully. The leaves are stripped from the stems and dried as quickly as possible with good ventilation out of direct sunlight, or in an oven at 150 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid losing much volatile oil.
Properties of the Plant
Physical and Medical Properties
Taken as a hot infusion, Beastnip promotes sweating and has been used to break fevers. The plant is beneficial for bringing on sleep, assist with colds, flus, fevers, and infectious childhood diseases, as well as cool a person down on a hot summer day. It is soothing to the nervous system and calming to the stomach.
Mystical Properties
To be determined by the powers that be in my adored venue. Some suggested uses by VST's are;
Feline beasts are unable to take an aggressive action in its presense.
The effects of the oil from Beastnip apply to ALL beasts.
Rumors About Beastnip
Beastnip helps to prevent miscarriage and premature birth as well as allays morning sickness.
A feline presented with Beastnip will become as docile as a kitten.
The only reliable source of Beastnip is a secretive cartel known only as "Beastnip it in the bud"
The accidental ingestion of Beastnip was how we got Feline Beasts in the first place. Silly, hungry humans lost in The Hedge...
~Free to add additional rumors here~
OOC Information
Beastnip is a Goblin Fruit that I have created for inclusion in my venue's Changeling event. White Wolf's Changeling: The Lost book sums it up best by stating on page 223, "Storytellers and even players should feel encouraged to create their own varieties of goblin fruits, as the contents of the Hedge are surely as wide and varied as anything we mere mortals can dream up." Beastnip is based on our Catnip and the flavored text above I included based on the information we have about the real plant.
