Dark berry
Scientific Name: Ascophosynus vitifructus  |
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Physical Description Body Type: Plantae Biological Information Diet: Acidic soil |
The Dark berry, also less-frequently called the Ascophosynus bush, is a species of fruiting shrub native to the Dark Berry Islands. It is endemic to the islands, with extremely limited populations existing on adjacent mainland Keltia. The dark glossy green leaves are elliptical and up to 5 centimetres (2 in) long. In autumn, the leaves turn to a brilliant red, orange, yellow, and/or purple. The flowers are long bell- or urn-shaped white to very light pink, 8.5 of an millimetres (1⁄3 in) long. The fruit is a red-burgundy berry with a 6.4-to-12.7 mm (1⁄4-to-1⁄2 in) diameter. The species is not self-pollinating and requires male and female plants to produce fruit. The plant is found in wooded or open habitats with moist acidic soils.
Cultural uses
These bushes are often maintained by islanders to form boundaries between their properties, as well as growing wildly beyond the settlements. The berries are widely considered to be an important symbol in the culture of the Dark Berry Islands and are featured on the nation's flag. They are one of just a few species to grow on the islands, which otherwise have a rather limited landscape, particularly on the hills inland. The bushes are particularly rampant around the town of Grapeseed, where the bushes are often very dense and grow quickly, requiring a high level of maintenance by the townspeople. The berries themselves are used in a number of alcoholic beverages, and are often harvested to make ales, ciders and wines. Cultivation of the berries outside of the DBI is regulated by the government, as foreign vinters have long sought to establish their own wineries in areas with less-expensive labor. Allowing such cultivation would also damage the local economy, which relies on these products as an important export. As such, unlicensed propagation of dark berries is prohibited, keeping them endemic to the islands.
