Juurelle

Juurelle is a fictional plant species used in worldbuilding, speculative fiction, and role-playing settings. It is described as a small understory shrub with notable tuberous roots and edible parts. The term appears across various works to populate temperate forest ecosystems in imaginary geographies.

Juurelle typically reaches 0.6–1.0 meters in height. Leaves are glossy, ovate, 4–8 cm long, arranged alternately. Flowers are bell-shaped, pink to lavender, about 1–1.5 cm long, clustered in loose inflorescences. The most distinctive feature is a durable, fleshy tuber beneath the soil, which stores starch and sugars.

In the fictional world, Juurelle is native to shaded temperate forests and forest margins on the Veridian archipelago, where soils are rich in organic matter and rainfall is evenly distributed. It tolerates partial shade and early-successional habitats after disturbance.

Juurelle forms ectomycorrhizal or endomycorrhizal associations with local fungi; pollinated by small moths attracted to nocturnal blooms; seeds dispersed by wind and small mammals; tubers can regenerate plants after disturbance.

In stories, Juurelle tubers are edible after cooking and provide a starch source in famine-like conditions. Leaves are sometimes used to brew a mild tea. The plant features in folklore as a symbol of persistence and renewal.