Carroots are also known as Orange-Root, "Togrisek" to the dwarves and "EioieeRrohboo" to the Brownies. This crisp, juicy root is a bright sunset colour, and can be eaten directly from the ground or cut and boiled.

Image description: The Carroot, also called Orange-Root - a crisp, juicy root of bright sunset colour. Picture drawn by Eshóh.

Appearance. An elongated irregular cone, bright orange in colour, forms the edible root of this healthy plant. Ferny, delicate stalks, rising a fourth of a ped above ground, are non-edible but have a peculiar pungent smell which deter flies. The root is usually between a finger to a hand's length, but has been known to grow up to the length of a dwarven arm in fertile soil.

Territory. Carroots prefer slightly acidic soil. Old drained swampland, or soil that has been burnt over are often excellent growing spots. Almost invariably found domesticated, as the wild variety has small, very bitter roots that are edible but not savoury to the palate. Known as Thar's Lace, from its dainty white flowers, it is sometimes fermented into a tonic wine called Lacebrew.

Usages. The root can be eaten fresh from the ground, washed and served raw. Many human families slice them radially or diagonally then boil them. Carroots can be baked with honey, but that is a city-folk affectation, and the average peasant prefers his caroots fresh or lightly boiled with seasalt. Dwarves tend to boil them until all shape has been lost and the water almost vanished, then mash the result and serve it as a heavily-spiced orange pulp. Brownies, it has been gossipped, cluster round one large Carroot that has been roasted on a lengthwise spit, and set their tiny knives flashing along its sides to carve away the soft, cooked flesh in bite-size slabs, eating directly from the vegetable. However prepared and consumed, the Carroot adds colour and flavour to many a table.

Myth/Lore. The root is claimed to be good for the eyes, although that may be a granny's fable, but many a hunter and ranger feeds his fill on a good pot of these orange roots ere setting out for a night ramble... and certainly it has its share of health-giving qualities.

There are also, although we hesitate to mention them, the stories about Gerisa of the Glitra, also known as Gerissa Goldenarse, a much-sought-after Centoraurian entertainer in the city of Milkengrad. She was a dancer who performed with a Blue Glitra (most likely a dyed chicken with glued-on peafowl primaries!) and her own skin - which apparently was an unusual deep orange colour. The contrast, under bright stage oillamps, was striking enough for several poets of the time to have commented most favourably upon in verse. Envious reigning beauties claimed it was dye, but no one seems to have made the connection with her diet, which was said to be primarily made up of fresh fruit... and Carroots.