The Heartlands Fire Seed is a Fire Seed plant whose flint-like seeds will be ignited and released when hit by an arrow.
Commonly grows throughout the Petrified Forest and Prism Fields of the Heart of the Plains.
Anatomy[]
The fire seed plant is an active pyrophyte. It is uniquely adapted to promote and be propagated by grass fires.
The plant body is stemless with pointed leaves, covered in moss-like fronds growing from its base. Once grown, both the leaves and their fronds quickly dehydrate in the sunlight. From the plant center grows woody stalks, terminating in fruiting buds.
The fruit of the fire seed is a serotinous cone which holds its spores in a suspension of inflammable oil. The cone has an extremely hard "flint-like" shell, which if struck by a falling tree or a running animal, can easily spark - igniting its oils which, in turn, sets the whole plant alight. When exposed to high heat, the serotinous seed opens fully and its spores are distributed on the thermal currents of the fire.
The fire seed grows on the grassy Veldt and its life cycle depends upon fire. Should a fire not occur during the life cycle of a seed pode, its oils seep onto the dry plant and surrounding grasses - increasing the likehood that it will be ignited by lightning or other natural phenomena.
Fire seed cones are eaten by hardier creatures of the Veldt, especialy the bladehead which has learned to use its armored jaw to slowly crack the volatile nut and consume the spore and oil within.
Na'vi collect scorched cone pieces to use as bot firelighters and tinder, and Zeswa elders use the fire seed plant to deliver a simple lesson. On Hunts, Na'vi youth are encouraged to ignite a fire seed cone with an arrow, witness its destruction, then return on their next hunt and mark what has occurred. Although the wildfire destroys, it creates new life and leaves the ground more fertile for its passing, a simple illustration of the balance of Eywa.
Seed[]
The seed of the fire seed plant is a serotinous cone which holds its spores in a suspension of inflammable oil. The cone has an extremely hard "flint-like" shell, which if struck by a falling tree or a running animal can easily spark, igniting its oils which in turn sets the whole plant alight.
The seed is inedible to the Na'vi, although its inflammable oils and fire-starting abilities are valued.
Cooking[]
Using a Heartlands Fire Seed as the main cooking ingredient in combination with Lamp Lizard Eggs is rumored to have a special effect.