druabne

Druabne is a genus of flowering plants described in the fictional flora of the continent of Orialis. The most widely cited species in this context is Druabne lucidus, although regional floras in the story occasionally recognize related taxa as distinct species.

Druabne specimens are medium-sized trees, 12–18 m tall, with pendulous branches. Leaves are alternately arranged, oval to lanceolate, 6–12 cm long, with glossy dark green surfaces; flowers arranged in elongated panicles, small, creamy white; fruit is a round, blue-black berry about 6–9 mm diameter.

Endemic to Mistwood and adjacent river basins in Orialis, it favors cool, moist limestone soils at 400–1200 m elevation. It generally forms understory canopies in mixed broadleaf-conifer forests.

Pollination is by nocturnal hawkmoths and diurnal bees; fruit ripens in late autumn; seeds require brief cold stratification to germinate. Growth is slow in the first decade; the tree is long-lived, commonly reaching 150–200 years.

In local traditions, druabne wood is valued for carving and musical instrument parts; berries and leaves are used in traditional medicine and dye production; the tree is a landmark in regional folklore, and festivals named Druabne Night commemorate the blooming season.

Conservation status varies within the imagined range, but is commonly classified as Vulnerable due to habitat loss. Protected areas and ex situ collections exist in the narrative world, and ongoing molecular work aims to resolve species limits and biogeography.