Submission (#4829) Approved

The Luminia Sylphi is a newly discovered species of flower that grows in small clusters along the underside of tree branches in the forests of Ealei. This unique flower grows in a very different way from other flowers, its short stem staying close to the bark of the tree it grows on and long, thin brownish tendrils that cover the petals when not in bloom, effectively camouflaging it to the tree. They only grow high above the sea in Ealei, out of direct sunlight and are actually somewhat like a parasite, attaching to a tree before proliferating. A single seed can spread to dozens of trees.
Locals have dubbed them "bark barnacles," but they are a beautiful plant, with three delicate, bell-shaped petals that range in color from a soft, pastel blue to a hot pink or purple. Each petal is intricately veined with a slightly shiny hue, giving the flower an almost iridescent appearance.
When in full bloom, they are a spectacular sight to behold. The tendrils will slowly unravel to reveal the delicate petals, and the flowers form a trail-like pattern on the underside of the limbs of certain trees, almost as though marking the footfalls of a mysterious creature.. They are surprisingly large, considering the thin whisker-like tendrils that keep them camouflaged most of their lives.

The flower only blooms for a few hours every few weeks under special conditions that have yet to be fully determined. It is currently theorized that they bloom only during the early morning hours after the full moon sets, but this is speculative at best. In reality, they have very delicate petals that quickly scorch in the bright sun and have low moisture tolerance, so they only bloom during low-humidity evenings and close when they have collected too much dew with their petals. They have little to no scent at all, which seems peculiar for such a vibrant bloom.
Despite its stunning beauty, the real value of the bark barnacle lies in its long, thin tendrils. These tendrils are incredibly tough and pliable, and initial tests have made local weavers increasingly active in seeking out more to make uniquely resilient travel items for adventurers. Foragers have been finding more of them hidden between branches and under the sprawling tree roots of the trees that top the medium sized stone spires of Ealei, now that the slight raised texture is known as a unique flower. Strangely the flower does not grow at the highest peaks, only at a certain elevation - high enough to be away from the humid ocean, open to high winds, and yet low enough to have the most shade covering from Yggdrasil. It would be difficult to cultivate in any replicated greenhouse or other natural environments that don't perfectly suit their needs, but are easy enough to encourage to grow in specific areas of Ealei.