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=== Races | Culture | Nutrition ===

====== MIREL LEAF ======

===== Overview =====

Mirel Leaf is a versatile green crop native to the wetlands and floodplains of the [[asari|Asari Region]] on [[the_planet_voi_700_d|VOI 700 D]]. Recognized by the [[the_natives_tribes_of_voi_700_d|Native Tribes]] as *Mir-Ela* (“Sweet Green”), it was a core ingredient in both daily meals and ceremonial offerings. Its mild, sweet taste and high nutrient content made it indispensable long before the arrival of [[the_humans|ExoHumans]].  

When the [[last_frontier|Last Frontier]] crash survivors failed to cultivate [[the_earth|Earth]] spinach or lettuce, Mirel Leaf quickly became their replacement vegetable. By the [[beta_age|Beta Age]], it was cultivated on a large scale in the [[hope|Hope Region]], forming a vital part of the settlers’ nutrition.  

===== Physical Description & Growth Conditions =====

==== Botanical Characteristics ====
  * **Plant Height:** 25–40 cm, with dense ground cover growth.  
  * **Leaves:** Broad, waxy, heart-shaped leaves with a glossy surface and faint violet veins.  
  * **Flavor:** Mild, sweet, slightly nutty when raw; earthy and soft when cooked.  
  * **Soil Needs:** Moist, nutrient-rich floodplain loam.  
  * **Water Requirements:** High — thrives in irrigated beds and wetland terraces.  
  * **Temperature Tolerance:** Adapted to humid twilight microclimates.  

===== Native Use & Cultural Significance =====

The Native Tribes cultivated Mirel Leaf in wet terraces, pairing it with tubers like [[bilax_root|Bilax Root]] and fruits such as [[tandora_fruit|Tandora Fruit]]. In ritual practice, bundles of leaves were woven into offerings cast into rivers as symbols of balance and renewal.  

It was also considered a “children’s food,” gentle on the stomach and often used in porridges for the very young and infirm.  

===== ExoHuman Use in the Beta Age =====

Settlers valued Mirel Leaf for its adaptability and familiar qualities. It was quickly domesticated in Hope and integrated into farming rotations with [[lunor_wheat|Lunor Wheat]] and [[zelor_grain|Zelor Grain]].  

At the [[last_frontier_university|Last Frontier University in New Kourou]], the [[gaia|AI GAIA]] helped settlers refine recipes, using Mirel Leaf in sautés, stews, and flatbreads. It became a frequent pairing with [[hoos|Hoos]] meat and [[moka|Moka]] eggs.  

Some ExoHumans developed mild intolerances — allergic reactions included rashes and digestive upset — but most embraced it as their first reliable source of leafy greens.  

===== Mirel Leaf in the Gamma Age =====

Under [[communardism|Communardism]], Mirel Leaf farming was centralized at the [[federal_food_plant|Federal Food Plant]] in [[hope|Hope]]. While it remained common in [[federal_canteen|Federal Canteens]] and workplace canteens, its cultural significance was lost.  

Formerly a sacred “Sweet Green” tied to tribal ritual, by the Gamma Age it had become just another standardized ration — boiled, pureed, or dried for mass distribution.  

===== Tactical Advice for Dungeon Masters =====

  * **Beta Age Hook:** A Hope farmer claims their Mirel crop has been blighted by “bad water.” PCs must determine if it is natural, sabotage, or a curse invoked by a Native ritual.  
  * **Gamma Age Hook:** An outlaw group smuggles fresh Mirel leaves as delicacies for wealthy settlers tired of Federal rations. PCs must decide whether to expose or protect the trade.  

===== Related Pages & Further Information =====

  * [[exohuman_nutrition_in_the_beta_age|Exohuman Nutrition in the Beta Age]]  
  * [[exohuman_nutrition_in_the_gamma_age|Exohuman Nutrition in the Gamma Age]]  
  * [[hope|Hope Region]]  
  * [[federal_food_plant|Federal Food Plant]]  
  * [[lunor_wheat|Lunor Wheat]]  
  * [[zelor_grain|Zelor Grain]]  
  * [[bilax_root|Bilax Root]]  
  * [[tandora_fruit|Tandora Fruit]]  
  * [[the_natives_tribes_of_voi_700_d|Native Tribes]]