Foridus is a cash crop that is grown quite commonly in the temperate regions of the world. Its prime use is the sap, called Foridite in powdered form. Due to the beautiful blossom and relatively small amount of care needed to tend it, it is a popular plant to allot a field for.

Appearance. Foridus commonly ranges at 1/2 to 1 ped at its peak height. It has a rough, natural texture similar to bamboo or windsong. Planted as a small round seed in the very beginning of spring, it spends three weeks germinating before it sprouts roots. First shoots appear above ground in 6-8 weeks, as a thin stalk with a grassy top. They continue growing in height, with little change in thickness until midsummer, when they will stop growing in height and start thickening.

When it is ready to be harvested, a single flower blooms from the top. This flower blooms usually 5-6 weeks after reaching its full height and has a rather simplistic beauty, but it's purpose is to signal the Foridus harvest. The blossom is about three-quarters the size of a human hand. Commonly, it will have 5-7 large petals, similar to a petunia. It is usually a pale to medium purple, but very rarely (approximately 1 in every 100.000 plants), there will be a white blossom. After the few weeks of blooming the flower will quickly die, so it is harvested, cut and then disposed of in time for winter, where the land can spend winter underneath the snow regaining nutrients to support the next season's crops.

Territory. One of the more pleasing things that Foridus offers is that it can be grown nearly anywhere. All that is needed is some decent soil and a moderate environment. The notable exceptions include deserts, mountains, and tropical jungles. The most common place for the Foridus to grow is in small rural villages and in the vicinity of larger towns.

Usages. Foridus is grown for the sole purpose of producing Foridite, a common spice used in baking sweets and flavoring fruit dishes. When the Foridus blooms, the stalk is cut and the sap extracted. Farmers typically do this by pressing between two peeled logs. Wealthy Foridus merchants use worked stone rollers manufactured by the dwarves, as more sap can be extracted with the heavier pressing. Whatever material is used has no impact upon the taste.

The sap is thick and sticky, with a cinnamon smell and taste. Straight from the plant, it can be used as a liquid (Foridus Juice), but it is more commonly frozen into a hard crystal, which is then ground into a powder and allowed to thaw and dry. By doing so, it becomes Foridite, ready for use.

After the plant is cut down, the dead stalks are commonly burned, having no other use.

As for the blossom of the Foridus plant: It has no economical use other than to signal the beginning of the harvest. However, its beauty and availability make it a favorite of village girls to braid into garlands or to wear in their hair.

Myth/Lore. While the Foridus has no myth or lore related to it, it's blossom has a rather quaint moral. When a white blossom appears, the owner of that plant is said to have good luck until his next harvest. Also, the white plant shows that even among something as commonplace as Foridus, something rare and magical can happen, leading to the saying, "Even a Foridus blooms white...," as well as the moral implications that go along with it.