Chief Librarian
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
- Intent: To sub flora/a staple food for Pylantians.
- Image Credit: Creative Boom
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: Pylantians
- Name: Octhocnen (Common Tongue) | Cubeflowers (Galactic Basic)
- Origins: Pylos Satnik
- Other Locations: N/A
- Classification: Edible Flower
- Average Growth Cycle: It takes about six standard weeks for cubeflower seeds to germinate. They are perennial flowers, meaning that they bloom every year indefinitely so long as viable growth conditions are maintained.
- Viability: Cubeflowers are fairly delicate plants requiring specific conditions in order to flourish, especially during their first six weeks. They must be planted in pH-balanced, nutrient-rich soil at a certain time of the year in order to avoid being exposed to temperatures that are too hot or too cold during this vulnerable early period in their lifespan. Once they begin to flower they become hardier and are able to withstand hot and cold weather. They produce multiple flowers at a time, but require large amounts of water; it is strongly recommended that gardeners install an irrigation system to ensure that they have enough. Once harvested, cubeflowers can remain fresh for up to a week if kept hydrated.
- Description: The cubeflower looks like a cube made up of dozens of smaller cubes sprouting from an impossibly thin green stalk. They are a staple food among Pylantians and are prized for their rich taste and high protein content. They have a pleasant scent.
- Average Height: 5–15 cm (2.0–5.9 in)
- Average Length: 10–50 cm (3.9–19.7 in)
- Color: They are most commonly found in red and pink colors, though variations do occur. Blue and purple versions are not naturally occurring and have been dyed by florists for decorative effect.
- Nutritional Value: Cubeflowers are a staple of Pylantian cuisine. They are very high in protein and have a rich taste not found anywhere else.
- Toxicity: Some offworlders have exhibited an allergic reaction to this plant, but there have been no known cases of Pylantians suffering similar effects.
- Other Effects: The flowers are sometimes ground up into a paste and used in skincare products such as lotions and creams. However there is little scientific evidence to back up the benefits of such use.
- Distinctions: Despite their candylike appearance, cubeflowers are indeed flowers, as they reproduce via pollination. Insects and birds spread the pollen (found in the slightly lighter colored uppermost side of the cube) to other flowers; they can also reproduce via self-pollination or cross-pollination.
- Favorite Food: Cubeflowers are a much-beloved food among Pylantians, who use it as an ingredient in a variety of dishes. It is said to have a uniquely delicious flavor found nowhere else in the galaxy.
- Difficult to Cultivate: As previously mentioned, the cubeflower is extremely difficult to grow due to its delicacy and the precise conditions it demands in order to thrive.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Cubeflowers originate on Pylos Satnik, homeworld of the Pylantians, where they have been cultivated for millennia. Prized for their flavor and considered highly valuable as a luxury foodstuff, they have historically been one of the primary goods sold by the merchant Sashkatros, who once held a monopoly on the crop. Those days are long past, and cubeflowers are now grown and enjoyed throughout the planet.
