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The Herbarium

A Field Guide to Real and Imaginary Plants

Serpenthope

Crysta flammeum

Antiquaceae (the Ancient family)

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Description

A succulent storing water in thick, fleshy leaves. Heart-shaped leaves with downy undersides and serrated margins.

Blooms change color as they age, from white through pink to purple, colored moss green. Blooms under a full moon.

Habitat

Appears in gardens that have been tended with love for generations.

Traditional Uses

None recorded - this plant seems to have escaped human attention until now.

Folklore

Children believed it could reveal hidden paths through forests.

Similar Species

Hybridizes with Winterbell.

Conservation

Thriving in disturbed habitats created by human activity.

Field Notes

Visit the same specimen throughout the year to observe seasonal changes.