The Rosemint is a common bush natural to the more temperate areas of Santharia. This plant comes by its name for the minty smelling leaves and beautiful flowers it produces. Rosemint is used not only for its very aromatic scent but also the fresh mint flavor it can bring to any food. The Rosemint is now very commonly found in many gardens throughout Santharia and is said to bring good luck.

Image description. A Rosemint Bush, often seen as a symbol of consistency and remembrance. Image drawn by Eshóh K'ryvvlen.

Appearance. The Rosemint is a medium sized bush with very small leaves and amazing pale blue flowers. The flowers of the Rosemint vary from a whitish color with pale blue veins to a very decidedly bright sky blue; however, it should not be confused with the deep blue common rose which has recently been cultivated and is structurally a very different plant. The leaves of the Rosemint are long, narrow and pointed at the end. The under-side of the leaves is a pale green almost white color and the top-side a very dark forest green.

The Rosemint is made up very like an ordinary rosebush, with many stems and flowers. However, Rosemints tend to have a much larger abundance of leaves growing from every branch and stem and are void of any thorns. It is believed by some that the Rosemint has such an abundance in leaves because it is lacking in thorns. These leaves are about a nailsbreadth long and half a nailsbreadth wide, tapering out to a point. Hundreds of leaves cover every stem and branch of the Rosemint.

The actual part of the Rosemint's branches that connects to the flowers are thin stems branching off from much thicker stems that are connected to the rosemint's tree-like base. The thinner stems connect to the rosehips, which hold all the actual bits of the flower together. Rosehips are the round green underside of the flowers, containing the fruit and seeds of the plant.

The flowers themselves are rather complicated structures. Before the rose blooms its outside is made up of a covering of 5 leaf-like flaps that cover up the bud. After this covering is a layer of five petals. If a rose contains any more than five petals it is called a double flower. Double flowers are not natural and have only come about just recently when purposely cultivated. Inside the petals is the male part of the flower, made up of many long yellow stalks with large round tops. When the flower is completely open, these stalks produce pollen from inside their large top pieces. The pollen is then carried over to the female part of the flower in the very center.

Territory. Rosemint bushes can be found in many places, but will only naturally be seen in temperate northern areas. Many people have been able to grow them in a variety of other climatic conditions, but only with extra care can they be grown in any environment un-natural to them. Rosemints have been found growing wild throughout much of Santharia including near the Vale of Brownies and throughout many forests such as the Thaelon, the Zeiphyrian Woods and the Quallian. Rosemint bushes have also been found throughout the Sharadon Forests; however, they may have been aided in growth by the Maeverhim elf tribe living there as this tribe is known for cultivating many plants that would not normally be found in the Sharadon Forests.

Usages. The leaves of the Rosemint are used to make scented oils and seasonings for food. The oils can be used for perfumes as well as medicine. Rosemint leaves e.g. are often added to various foods such as meats, especially fish and poultry and in many breads. If the leaves are brewed, they can be used for a very minty tea that has been known to help a sore throat.

The rosehips can be used to make a delicately flavored jam or are made into candies. Rosehips can also be eaten raw as a fruit.

The flower petals of the Rosemint have been used in salads, but this use has gone out of common practice. Because the flowers themselves do smell very sweet and delicate, they are made into oils or potpourris. These oils are used in perfumes, soap and various other things.

Reproduction. Inside the petals of the flower are the male parts called stalks. The top of each stalk produces pollen, which is released when the flower is in full bloom. This pollen is then carried, either by the wind or by insects such as malise, to the female part of the flower which is also a stalk, but much larger with a round bulb at the bottom. This bulb is actually contained within the rosehips of the flower. Inside the bulb is the makings of a seed. After the pollen is transferred over to the female parts of the flower it fertilizes the bulb which then grows to become a seed. The seed can then be transferred into the ground after the flower has died and is dried by the sun. A seed can be transferred to the ground either naturally by falling from the plant onto the ground and eventually being covered over by the earth with time and weather or by being removed and planted into the earth.

Myth/Lore. Rosemint is largely thought of as a symbol for constancy and remembrance and is used at many funerals, either to be carried or put in wreaths. It is thought that Rosemint was used so often at funerals for its pungent scent, which was very helpful in hiding the unpleasant smell of death. Sprigs of Rosemint are often burned as a sacrifice to the Goddess Queprur.

Rosemint has also been used in weddings, placed in bridal wreaths and handed out to wedding guests, so that the happy occasion could always be remembered.

Another belief is that Rosemint will ward off nightmares when placed under one's pillow or bed.