Potvorroot

Potvorroot is a fictional tuberous root plant widely cited in fantasy literature and tabletop role-playing games as a staple medicinal and magical ingredient. In many depictions, the plant is a perennial with a stout, fleshy tuber that stores nutrients and a tall, branched stem bearing compound leaves and umbels of small flowers. The tuber is described as large, with brown to purplish skin and pale flesh, often described as yielding when crushed a viscous sap with a bitter-sweet aroma. The plant reaches 0.6–1.2 m in height, with pinnate or lobed leaves and white or greenish flowers arranged in umbrella-like inflorescences.

In folklore, potvorroot grows in damp, fertile soils of temperate wetlands, bog margins, and riverbanks, commonly associated with northern Europe and adjacent fantasy realms; in game settings it is cultivated in herb gardens. The root is attributed analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties in fictional medicine, often prepared as a decoction or tincture, and in lore contains alkaloids called potvorines that can calm pain but may cause drowsiness or toxicity if misused. Real-world safety in fiction warns to use only under guidance. In cultivation, potvorroot may be propagated by division of the tuber or by seed; it prefers moist, fertile soil, partial shade, and regular moisture, and is described as hardy to cool climates.