The roscourd is a showy, nectar-bearing flower that gives its name to the region where it is most abundant. Growing in dense stands across northeastern Esgaia, it plays a foundational ecological role as the primary nectar source for couredew featherflies, petalden mites, and the dwarf finbird.

Etymology

Unknown.

Morphology

Each roscourd produces a single flower on a solitary, upright stem, reaching a height of about 60 cm. The bloom is heart-shaped due to a pair of fused sepals that enclose the reproductive structures; the species produces no true petals. The sepals are thickly pigmented, ranging from pinkish red to deep magenta or blood-red.

Physiology

Produces abundant nectar and pollen.

Mechanisms

Stems are covered with fine, penetrating hairs that deter handling.

Behavior

Life Cycle

The plant is biennial. In the first year, seedlings establish. They bloom in late winter, shed sepals, and enter dormancy through summer/autumn. In the second late winter, they bloom again to produce seed pods, then die by the following autumn.

Social Structure

Grows in dense stands.

Ecology

The plant creates a distinctive seasonal landscape. It provides husks and root matter that enrich the soil and provide food for detritivores after death.