Verejooks

Verejooks is a fictional genus of flowering shrubs widely cited in worldbuilding, speculative botany, and certain fantasy settings. It comprises several closely related species that produce conspicuously bright fruits and play a notable role in regional ecologies and cuisines within the imagined world. The term is used to describe both the plant group and its characteristic fruit, known as verefruits.

In-world taxonomy places verejooks in the fictional family Veridaceae, within the order Rosales. The genus name is said to derive from the local language veru meaning "bright" and jook meaning "fruit," though etymologies vary by tradition. Species are commonly distinguished by leaf shape and fruit color.

Verejooks shrubs are typically evergreen, reaching 1–2 meters tall. Leaves are glossy, lanceolate; flowers are small, pale cream, with a mild fragrance. The verefruit is a spherical to oblong berry that ripens to deep red or orange, containing several seeds. Plants favor riverine or damp sites and form mutualisms with soil fungi.

Pollination occurs mainly via native bees; seed dispersal by thrushes and other fruit-eating birds. The fruit's mucilaginous pulp attracts animals, aiding dispersal. Some species can resprout after fire, contributing to succession in disturbed habitats.

In the fictional cultures, verejooks fruits are consumed fresh or processed into jams, syrups, and wines. Leaves may be used in herbal remedies or dyes. The harvest season is celebrated in festivals called Verejooks Nights, often featuring storytelling and music.