Neville Longbottom May 31st, 2009, 12:12 pm Here are the results of the contest:
best name
1st place - #3 - JJFinch (13 votes)
2nd place #15 - Alien_Visitor - (12 votes)
3rd place - #6 - Asteria_Malfoy - (11 votes)
best picture
1st place - #2 - Pox Voldius - (26 votes)
2nd place - #17 - gottriplets - (13 votes)
3rd place - #39 - Klio - (8 votes)
best trap
1st place - #9 - Mimosa - (11 votes)
2nd place - #26 - Daggerstone - (9 votes)
3rd place - #36 - thethirdman - (7 votes)
best escape
1st place - #28 - LittleElf - (15 votes)
2nd place - #29 - MrSleepyHead - (12 votes)
3rd place - 13 - Den_Muggle - (9 votes)
best overall
1st place - 26 - Daggerstone - (19 votes)
2nd place - 39 - Klio - (10 votes)
3rd place - tie - #8 - vigneshnimbus - #13 - Den_Muggle - (8 votes)
It was a great contest. Thank you all for participating. :clap:
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Here are the banners for the winners:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/QOR47/Prize%20Banners/BestName.png
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/QOR47/Prize%20Banners/BestPicture.png
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/QOR47/Prize%20Banners/BestTrap.png
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/QOR47/Prize%20Banners/BestEscape.png
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a254/QOR47/Prize%20Banners/BestOverall.png
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Congratulations to:
Our Winners:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/bestname.gif - Best Name - JJFinch - Entry #3 - Snoozegrass
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/bestpicture.gif - Best Picture - Pox Voldius - Entry #2 - The Carnivorous Poppy
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/besttrap.gif - Best Trap - Mimosa - Entry #9 - Dinosaurus Vegetalis
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/bestescape.gif - Best Escape -LittleElf - Entry #28 - Canis Custodium
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/bestoverall.gif - Best Overall - Daggerstone - Entry #26 - Vanda corvunguisis (Ravenclaw orchid)
Special Awards:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/mostoriginal.gif - Most Original - Den_Muggle - Entry #13 - Fiddlehead Nimbletonia
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/mostdangerous.gif - Most Dangerous - storyteller - Entry #20 - flora adiantum trapezforme fauna
Also known as: The Twinkling Twilight Vampire Plant
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/funniest.gif - Funniest - thethirdman - Entry #36 - The Furious Death Cactus!
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/botanicalbook.gif - Botanical Book Award - MrSleepyHead - Entry #29 - Daucus combibo
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/sproutspupil.gif - Sprouts Pupil - Klio - Entry #39 - Hyrcanian Strangler Rose (Rosa Necans Hyrcanica)
and - vigneshnimbus - Entry #8 - Thanatoplanc
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/fatladys.gif - Best Artwork - Rell - Entry #40 - Serpentisa
and gottriplets - Entry #17 - NonOculum Darticus
Nadia made the avatars and RemusLupinFan made the banners.
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We awarded points for the people who won the first round - 3 pts for 1st place, 2 points for 2nd and 1 pt for everyone who made it to the second round. Some people were in more than one category. Those totals are:
1 - Spacecadet - Gryffindor 2
7 - elvenprincess - Gryffindor 1
13 - Den_Muggle - Gryffindor 7
17 - gottriplets - Gryffindor 2
36 - thethirdman - Gryffindor 1
8 - vigneshnimbus - Hufflepuff 4
9 - Mimosa - Hufflepuff 1
11 - HMN - Hufflepuff 1
15 - Alien_Visitor - Hufflepuff 1
42 - LikeLuna - Hufflepuff 1
44 - freelantzer - Hufflepuff 1
3 - JJFinch - Ravenclaw 3
20 - storyteller - Ravenclaw 1
29 - MrSleepyHead - Ravenclaw 3
39 - Klio - Ravenclaw 2
40 - Rell - Ravenclaw 1
2 - Pox Voldius - Slytherin 4
6 - Asteria_Malfoy - Slytherin 1
26 - Daggerstone - Slytherin 7
27 - myosotis - Slytherin 3
28 - LittleElf - Slytherin 1
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Then we awarded 10 pts to the winners of each category, 8 points to 2nd place and 6 points to 3rd place:
best name
1st place - #3 - JJFinch (13 votes) - Ravenclaw - 10
2nd place #15 - Alien_Visitor - (12 votes) - Hufflepuff - 8
3rd place - #6 - Asteria_Malfoy - (11 votes) - Slytherin - 6
best picture
1st place - #2 - Pox Voldius - (26 votes) - Sytherin - 10
2nd place - #17 - gottriplets - (13 votes) - Gryffindor - 8
3rd place - #39 - Klio - (8 votes) - Ravenclaw - 6
best trap
1st place - #9 - Mimosa - (11 votes) - Hufflepuff - 10
2nd place - #26 - Daggerstone - (9 votes) - Slytherin - 8
3rd place - #36 - thethirdman - (7 votes) - Gryffindor - 6
best escape
1st place - #28 - LittleElf - (15 votes) - Slytherin - 10
2nd place - #29 - MrSleepyHead - (12 votes) - Ravevenclaw - 8
3rd place - 13 - Den_Muggle - (9 votes) - Gryffindor - 6
best overall
1st place - 26 - Daggerstone - (19 votes) - Slytherin - 10
2nd place - 39 - Klio - (10 votes) - Ravenclaw - 8
3rd place - tie - #8 - vigneshnimbus - Hufflepuff - 6
- #13 - Den_Muggle - (8 votes) - Gryffindor - 6
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Each House received 2 points for each person who entered the contest:
participation ....2 points each .... total
Gryffindor - 10 entrants = 20 points
Hufflepuff - 13 entrants = 26 points
Ravenclaw- 11 entrants = 22 points
Slytherin - 9 entrants = 18 points
Hufflepuff was the only House to have more entrants in this contest than in the Fluffy's Song contest.
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House points for the Devil's Snare Task:
Gryffindor - 59
Hufflepuff - 59
Ravenclaw - 64
Slytherin - 78
Congratulations, Slytherin House, for winning this contest. :clap:
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Fluffy's Song points:
Ravenclaw - 77
Hufflepuff - 56
Gryffindor - 46
Slytherin - 18
Devil's Snare points:
Ravenclaw - 64
Hufflepuff - 59
Gryffindor - 59
Slytherin - 78
Combined totals:
Ravenclaw - 141
Hufflepuff - 115
Gryffindor - 105
Slytherin - 96
Luna Lovegood May 31st, 2009, 12:13 pm These are the finalists for the best name.
27 - Swallowmee - by myosotis [S]
15 - Passerapagus Plant - by Alien Visitor [H]
11 - Dormant Doormat - by HMN [H]
6 - Sorcerophagus Oleracea - by Asteria_Malfoy [S]
3 - Snoozegrass - by JJFinch [R]
1 - Tickled Pink - by Spacecadet [G]
The voting threads can be found here:
Through the Trapdoor - Moderated Threads (http://www.cosforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=257)
Neville Longbottom May 31st, 2009, 12:14 pm These are the finalists for the best picture.
Entry 40 - by Rell [R]
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Serpentisa.jpg
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Entry 39 - by Klio [R]
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Strangler.gif
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Entry 17 - by gottriplets [G]
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/NonOculumDarticus-1.jpg
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Entry 8 - by vigneshnimbus [H]
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Thanatoplanc.jpg
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Entry 2 - by Pox Voldius - [S]
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/carnivorouspoppy.jpg
The voting threads can be found here:
Through the Trapdoor - Moderated Threads (http://www.cosforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=257)
Luna Lovegood May 31st, 2009, 12:15 pm These are the finalists for the best trap. This vote was very close.
The voting threads can be found here:
Through the Trapdoor - Moderated Threads (http://www.cosforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=257)
Noted for its silvery green color and spiraling leaf patterns, the Perscitus Folium Impingo, commonly called the Leaf Launcher, is native to Britain. It is a quick grower, reaching heights of ten feet with thick branches densely covered with razor sharp leaves. While beautiful, this is not a shrub to be underestimated. If you find yourself near the Leaf Launcher, the characteristic creak as its branches wind up will serve as your only warning. Within seconds, each branch will wind itself up and recoil around, hurling dagger-like leaves that will slice anyone within 30 yards. A cousin to the Whomping Willow, the Leaf Launcher is often planted around the perimeter of celebrities’ homes to keep paparazzi at bay. However, one noted celebrity, Gilderoy Lockhart, has spoken out against this practice saying, “Who am I to deny the world a glimpse into the life of someone as revered as myself? Snap away. I’ll be happy to sign any photos.” The Leaf Launcher was also famously used at Hogwarts to protect the Sorcerer’s Stone, spanning the corridor beneath the trapdoor. Landing with a thud on the floor, Harry Potter and his friends then had a Leaf Launcher to contend with.
The Assiduous Creeper traps people under the trapdoor very simply - it blocks the exit. The Creeper consists of large leaves and thin vines that move to cover the door to the next room when someone drops from the trapdoor above. The Creeper's many long vines are constantly in motion, which serve to distract the person seeking to pass. Although the Creeper will only rarely attack the entrant, its branches are covered in dark, venomous thorns, which eliminate the likelihood of attempts to simply pry it off the door. The Creeper derives pleasure from confusing the entrant, and has been known to steal the wand of an unwary visitor, reducing his or her chance of escape to next to nothing. It is able to remain incredibly alert for days on end and thus proves a very effective barrier on the path to the Philosopher's Stone.
What The #$&@ Kind of Plant Is That?
You should have looked before you leapt. Upon impact the Furious Death Cactus! greets you with a flurry of blows. Upper cuts, roundhouse kicks, nunchaku, manly battle cries and general, multipurpose smitings. Why, you may ask, is this plant wrecking your being with a pummeling to rival the might of all the warriors of Valhalla? The answer is simple. The Furious Death Cactus! is an man-made abomination created with the DNA of Chuck Norris and Bruce Lee, the burning rage of Gerard Butler in 300, and injected with CYBORG MAGIC! ZOMG! So great is its power that it blooms flowers resembling the heads of those from which its genetics came. It rains its unholy wrath upon your soul and gives you a bad day. And when it’s through with you, it searches for Sarah Conner.
Believed to be bred by witch-maidens of Avalon at the request of one of the Hogwarts founders, this fragile-looking blue flower is surprisingly hostile in nature. A single 10 ft stem can hold anywhere between seven and thirty-four individual flowers, their size subject to available space but never exceeding 6 in in diameter. In regard to nutrition and reproduction, the plant is completely autonomous; its slow metabolism allows it to feed on a single prey for months on end, whereas propagation is achieved by shedding of a single leaf every two years. Originally devised as a guardian plant, it reacts to any fluctuations in the ambiance by instantaneously emitting jets of delicately scented mist, which simultaneously numb the body and stimulate the mind. The hapless victims are forced to regurgitate, over and over again, every single fragment of learning ever acquired – from initial lessons in the use of a chamber pot, to complete lyrics of the latest Celestina Warback’s wizardpop charts hit accidentally overheard on “Witching Hour”. Needless to say, as all bodily functions are suspended for the duration of enchantment, the victims of this plant die a slow, humiliating death by cell poisoning.
When the diamond-like structure (DLS) of this botanical absorbs any form of luminance it becomes Active.
It absorbs all the light around it causing a spotlight effect. Then it starts to luminesce.
Then its facets commence sparkling.
When bioforms see the botanical twinkling they become mesmerized. If an animated subject touches any part of an active flora adiantum trapezforme fauna, they become ensnared. The victim’s exterior covering will then slowly turn into the same DLS that the plant is comprised of. If a transfixed Carbon-based life form is close enough to the plant, its snake-like roots are able to reach out and inject venom into them. This causes the transformation to accelerate leaving only minutes before the transformation is complete.
Once the quarry has been preserved in the DLS the plant slowly feeds off of the helpless vassal, consuming all of its fluids. Once all the liquids haves been consumed there is nothing left of them except the DLS. The facets will then slowly crumble into tiny pieces. Each of these minuscule pieces will then bloom and regenerate into an immaculate copy of the original parent plant.
Entrapment: After falling through the trapdoor, I landed on a soft, spongy surface covered with sticky, hair-like protrusions. The surface angled and allowed me to slide safely to the floor, the stickiness of the protrusions slowing my descent. Lighting my wand, I saw that it was a large plant with many tightly-coiled fronds. As I tried to move past the tight grouping of stems, the fronds began to uncoil, completely transforming the plant. It revealed lighter green, slender leaves, some of which acted as hands to grab me, while others unfurled to reveal a variety of musical instruments, which other leaves strummed, beat, shook or bowed (the sticky sap made good rosin, allowing the leaves to act as a fiddle bow). I realized I was in the clutches of the dreaded Fiddlehead Nimbletonia, a plant that lives to dance and forces anyone in reach to dance as well. I was spun and dragged around to the Mamba, the Foxtrot, Salsa and others I didn’t know. Its sticky fronds allowed it to grab my arms and legs, forcing them to move to the rhythms it chose to play. I knew it would dance me to death if I didn’t do something quickly.
How the plant traps people: This man-eating plant is really a living vine, like the Devil’s Snare. It is sensitive to sound, especially music. When it hears music, it comes alive, so in this case anyone playing music to put Fluffy to sleep would wake it, and it’d be ready to deal with the intruder. It spreads its tentacles wide, fanged mouth open and ready to catch whoever falls through the trapdoor. The tentacles wrap around the prey and coats it with a paralyzing fluid that renders it helpless to defend itself. Then the Dinosaurus Vegetalis can feast at its leisure, one victim at a time while the tentacles hold the others.
How the plant traps people?
“What’s this stuff?” were his first words.
“I can’t move. Maybe it’s glue or something. What do you think, Hermione?”
“Don’t move. Stay very still.”
“Well, I can’t even if I wanted to!”
“Do you know what this is?”
“Harry, its Hermione. Of course she knows. You do, don’t you?”
“I think, I know. It is called ‘Thanatoplanc’.”
“Well, my day just keeps on getting better and better. First it was Fluffy and now this thanato-thingy. Did I just die and come to heaven?”
“So, what do you know about it?”
“It is considered to be one of the most dangerous plants’ but it is very useful as many of the Potion ingredients are obtained from it.”
“Must be Snape’s idea of paradise, this!”
“It secretes an adhesive when it comes in contact with anything living and saps the energy out of its victims through its leaves.”
“Great! Now that we know what it is and what it does maybe it will let us through. I am not a ‘bundle of energy’ or anything.”
How it traps people:
The method by which this plant traps is three-fold. Firstly, it catches potential victims off-guard, as it is indistinguishable from ordinary run-of-the-mill, bog-standard grass (see picture). Secondly, it emits a powerful gaseous sleeping potion through pores in the blades, which causes the victim (i.e. anyone standing, sitting or lying on the grass, which would, of course, include anyone falling on it from above) to fall into a deep state of unconsciousness. The sound of the victim’s snores (an inevitable side-effect of the potion) stimulates the secretion (from the grass blades) of digestive juices, comparable to those found in carnivorous plants known to muggles, though approximately ten times more powerful. The victim will be digested alive (though thankfully unaware), and will be absorbed into the roots of the grass. The sadistic beauty of this plant is that a victim will rarely receive any help from passers-by, as they will appear simply to be asleep (until the results of the digestion process have become visible, by which time help would be too late).
How the plant traps people:
If you fall into the enormous leaves of this plant, the tiny hairs that cover them will cling to every part of your skin and clothing that they come in contact with. Each hair is tipped with microscopic barbs that inject a fast-acting sedative venom, which will put you to sleep in minutes, and if left untreated will cause you to become comatose. The leaves themselves will also curl into a cocoon around you as soon as they feel your weight, and then they will begin to secrete digestive enzymes that will slowly dissolve you into a soup of nutrients for the plant to absorb. Should you have the foresight to fly down from the trap door, and thus avoid the leaves, you would still have to deal with the plant’s deceptively pleasant scent, the effects of which include drowsiness, apathy, euphoria, reduced attention span – and with longer exposure, some loss of motor coordination and slurring of speech.
How the plant traps people:
When someone falls into the vines of the Tickled Pink plant, they have little time to respond. The vines begin to move around the unsuspecting victim trapping them in place. Then the plant quickly uses the finger like ends of the vines to tickle its victim into a laughing fit. Don’t be fooled by the plants beautiful flowers either, for if the victim gets too close to those, they release bursts of laughing gas, further incapacitating its victims with bouts of hilarity.
Neville Longbottom May 31st, 2009, 12:15 pm These are the finalists for the best escape.
The hex didn’t work. I tried Diffindo, Wingardium Leviosa, a Banishing Charm, Confringo and Expulso curses, and Incendio. After all my spellwork, the grumblage root remained unharmed: in fact, its suction cups squeezed me all the tighter in the plant’s fear and anger, draining all the more energy from me. The plant had clearly evolved to protect itself from magical attacks. In desperation, I abandoned my wand and took a jaw-crushing bite of the root. My teeth penetrated the grumblage like magic couldn’t. Once bitten, the grumblage root retracted its suction cups and fell off, leaving me to deal with a very swollen finger. However, while a terrifying monster of a plant, I found that escaping from its grip was not only relieving, but quite tasty. The grumblage root will definitely become a delicacy in coming years – pricey, though, because of the dangers involved in combating this root. But, remember! Sir Kralupent Kralare is the only human alive who knows where this plant resides. Do not attempt to steal my wealth!*
*Professor McGonagall discovered that Sir Kralupent Kralare died in 1872, and a large culture of grumblage roots can be found near Ottery St. Catchpole, at Mr. Xenophilius Lovegood’s residence.
Ways to escape: Because of its looks, Canis is very vain. The way to get it to let go is to flatter it. Tell it: “You’re a cute little plant, aren’t you? Let me see you smile, Canis!” By smiling, Canis will let go of whatever it’s holding in its “jaws”. Then stroke the “arms” and “hands” gently, saying: “Oh, look how beautiful these leaves are, how flexible the vine! Are you supple enough to cross your arms, Canis?” It will be too happy to demonstrate. As soon as the “arms” are crossed, hit it with an Immobilizing Charm like Petrificus Totalus that will both keep it motionless and stop its barking, and run fast for the door of the room, and on to the next challenge. ;)
The first known victim of Vanda corvunguisis was Marged the Bright, High Witch of Avalon, who, upon seeing the orchid in full bloom for the first time, unwittingly exclaimed “Oh, w…!” and launched into a monologue that lasted three months and proved quite enlightening - if somewhat shocking - for many of her younger and less experienced sisters; none of the witch-maidens ever dared approach the flower again. After centuries of trial and error – which included unsuccessful use of Bubble-Head Charm by Beathag the Blind, as well as the infamous ‘Menagerie incident’ involving some of the wizarding world’s finest and most accomplished Animagi - during which the plant spread to cover two-thirds of Avalon, thereby earning it is name of “Hidden Island”, it was discovered that the plant’s assault only continues as long as there is sensible input from the prey (as demonstrated by none other than our dearly departed Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who survived a cruel attempt on his life by one of the Howarts’ greenhouse elves by offering the plant an excerpt from his famous 1991 Sorting Speech). Subsequently, all wizardfolk tasked with gardening took up carrying ample supplies of Babbling Beverage when tending to the vicious plant.
Escape: Frantically trying to think with the strong Latin beat pounding in my head, I watched the way the roots strutted to the music and suddenly realized my salvation was only a song away. Fortunately, I had brought along my Michael Flately moving miniature. Taking quick advantage when the plant dipped me, I managed to get it out and toss it to the floor, then enlarged it to life-size with a quick charm. When the plant tried to grab it to dance, the miniature’s own music started, drowning out the Latin beat of the Nimbletonia. The fabulous footwork of Michael Flately awed the plant so much that the Nimbletonia tried to imitate the quick, nimble dance steps of the Lord of the Dance. As I had suspected, it had never danced that way before and soon had its roots so tangled that it fell flat on its flowers as the leaves that had been strumming the charango, bowing the fiddle and beating the drums completely broke trying to keep up. Humiliated, it closed the yellow flowers to hide the red eyes, retreated back to its furled state to recover, and I was able to escape to face the next challenge.
How can one escape from the plant?
“So, how do we escape from this mess?”
“Don’t tell me, you haven’t read that part!”
“The answer lies partly in the name itself.”
“Would you stop being so cryptic and answer already?”
“Ron, if you don’t stop interrupting, I will apply some of this glue on your mouth.”
“Hermione, the answer.”
“Well, the plant will continue to hold onto us till it thinks that we are alive.”
“Phew! That’s a big relief. I will be free once I am dead.”
“Ron, don’t tempt me! Anyway, if we can fool it to think that we are dead, it will release us.”
“How do we do that?”
“The plant recognizes our presence by smell and if we smell like we are decaying then it will release us. I know a spell that may work.”
“Isn’t there any other way?”
“Yes, there is but it’s too complex. We would have to transfigure ourselves partially into a Wood Snake and play possum. We can then release a liquid from the snake’s glands that gives a rotting smell.”
“We definitely won’t come out smelling like a rose even if we get out of this one, would we?”
-Pretending you are dead, works too!
The only way to escape is to tell it jokes. Its favorite joke is “Why did the mandrake cross the road?” but it loves other classics like “Knock Knock, whose there? Gillyweed who? Not Gillyweed you silly. How could gillyweed knock?” Now you ask, how can you tell if it’s laughing. The large hole in the middle of the trunk splits open and the tree moves as if it was laughing. Once you get it to laugh you must keep going, till it puts you down and you can run to a safe distance.
Luna Lovegood May 31st, 2009, 12:16 pm These are the finalists for the best overall entry. This entry has it all, best name, picture, trap, and escape.
Entry 39
Hyrcanian Strangler Rose (Rosa Necans Hyrcanica)
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Strangler.gif
DESCRIPTION:
This plant looks like a common wild rose, but its branches can grow by over twenty metres a minute. The plant kills by wrapping its victim in its thorny brambles which quickly turn into wooded, thick branches. The plant can also break through rock and demolish buildings.
The Strangler Rose was first reported in an unfortunate incident of 1377, where a magically enhanced rosehip was accidentally dropped at the Royal Residence in Königsberg. The whole castle was overgrown by roses within less than an hour. Wizards managed to contain the outbreak, but the memory lives on in the muggle story of ‘Sleeping Beauty’. Ever since the plant has been on the list of illegal dangerous species.
The seeds of the Strangler Rose can be kept for years – but as soon as they come in contact with soil and light they will start to grow immediately. As soon as the trap door is opened, even the little light seeping through to the ground will trigger the seeds and strangle any intruder. Wandlight will make them grow considerably faster. The danger to the school can be contained by ensuring that the trapdoor will shut quickly each time it is opened.
DEFENCE:
This is an extremely dangerous plant, which is very difficult to contain. Its use is illegal, except under severely monitored laboratory conditions. The easiest way of stopping or preventing growth of Rosa Necans is to deprive it of light, which will stop its growth, and then Vanish the entire plant.
If a strangler rose hip is exposed to full daylight, out in the open, it is best to set up a Shield Charm around the site to contain the outbreak, then to wait for nightfall. This is how the Königsberg incident was dealt with. This works only if the night sky is overcast.
The worst outbreak in modern times (Tunguska 30th June 1908) happened in the early morning, following magical experiments. The rose quickly spread over a considerable area. The only possible measure was a massive magical explosion, famous among muggles as a mysterious meteorite strike.
The plant used to block the way to the Stone will be located indoors: if surprised by a Strangler rose, shut out all light sources and extinguish wand lights to stop growth. If you know that Rosa Necans is waiting for you, use Peruvian Darkness powder to reduce light before entering the room.
This is a photoshopped composite, with added animation (animation kicks in after 12 seconds).
Rose picture:
Benjamin Wilkes, The English Moths and Butterflies, London: 1749, plate 30.
http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/exhibns/month/july2004.html
Parts of the full picture were used for the rosehip and rose picture, and for the animated plant.
Thorns picture: http://www.uwgb.edu/BIODIVERSITY/herbarium/shrubs/ruball01.htm
Used in the top right hand frame.
Castle:
free clip art at cksinfo.com - http://www.cksinfo.com/fantasyandmythology/castles/index.html
Used in the three bottom frames. The plants in the frames in the middle and on the right were added by hand (photoshop airbrush).
Entry 29
Daucus combibo
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/DaucusCombibo.jpg
While researching a plant to replace Devil’s Snare under the trapdoor, Professor McGonagall discovered the memoirs of one Sir Kralupent Kralare:
~~ From the Journal of Sir Kralupent Kralare ~~
Daucus combibo, the grumblage root, as I call it, is perhaps the most intriguing plant I encountered while traveling. The primary taproot of the plant does not dig into the ground, but instead rests atop the soil. When I first saw it, I believed the grumblage root a common carrot pulled up from the ground – orange and cone-shaped. I hungrily went to grab it, for I had not eaten in several hours, when the root defensively produced a whirl of suction cups, not unlike those of a giant squid. Though never exceeding 7 centimeters in diameter, the randomly arranged suction cups latch onto the attacker and immediately begin to parasitize the predator, absorbing water and sugars from the host – me! When it latched onto my finger, I slowly began to lose feeling in the appendage and grew weak as my water and sugars were drained. Before my energy was completely exhausted, I whipped out my wand to get rid of it with a well-chosen hex.
The hex didn’t work. I tried Diffindo, Wingardium Leviosa, a Banishing Charm, Confringo and Expulso curses, and Incendio. After all my spellwork, the grumblage root remained unharmed: in fact, its suction cups squeezed me all the tighter in the plant’s fear and anger, draining all the more energy from me. The plant had clearly evolved to protect itself from magical attacks. In desperation, I abandoned my wand and took a jaw-crushing bite of the root. My teeth penetrated the grumblage like magic couldn’t. Once bitten, the grumblage root retracted its suction cups and fell off, leaving me to deal with a very swollen finger. However, while a terrifying monster of a plant, I found that escaping from its grip was not only relieving, but quite tasty. The grumblage root will definitely become a delicacy in coming years – pricey, though, because of the dangers involved in combating this root. But, remember! Sir Kralupent Kralare is the only human alive who knows where this plant resides. Do not attempt to steal my wealth!*
*Professor McGonagall discovered that Sir Kralupent Kralare died in 1872, and a large culture of grumblage roots can be found near Ottery St. Catchpole, at Mr. Xenophilius Lovegood’s residence.
The above entry describes a bizarre botanical biennial I happened upon during my travels abroad. Included are hastily drawn sketches of the plant in its two stages and a cross section of said plant. The illustrations were detailed by my graphite quill and beautified by my pigmented quills.
Entry 26
Vanda corvunguisis (Ravenclaw orchid)
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/RavenclawOrchid.jpg
Believed to be bred by witch-maidens of Avalon at the request of one of the Hogwarts founders, this fragile-looking blue flower is surprisingly hostile in nature. A single 10 ft stem can hold anywhere between seven and thirty-four individual flowers, their size subject to available space but never exceeding 6 in in diameter. In regard to nutrition and reproduction, the plant is completely autonomous; its slow metabolism allows it to feed on a single prey for months on end, whereas propagation is achieved by shedding of a single leaf every two years. Originally devised as a guardian plant, it reacts to any fluctuations in the ambiance by instantaneously emitting jets of delicately scented mist, which simultaneously numb the body and stimulate the mind. The hapless victims are forced to regurgitate, over and over again, every single fragment of learning ever acquired – from initial lessons in the use of a chamber pot, to complete lyrics of the latest Celestina Warback’s wizardpop charts hit accidentally overheard on “Witching Hour”. Needless to say, as all bodily functions are suspended for the duration of enchantment, the victims of this plant die a slow, humiliating death by cell poisoning.
The first known victim of Vanda corvunguisis was Marged the Bright, High Witch of Avalon, who, upon seeing the orchid in full bloom for the first time, unwittingly exclaimed “Oh, w…!” and launched into a monologue that lasted three months and proved quite enlightening - if somewhat shocking - for many of her younger and less experienced sisters; none of the witch-maidens ever dared approach the flower again. After centuries of trial and error – which included unsuccessful use of Bubble-Head Charm by Beathag the Blind, as well as the infamous ‘Menagerie incident’ involving some of the wizarding world’s finest and most accomplished Animagi - during which the plant spread to cover two-thirds of Avalon, thereby earning it is name of “Hidden Island”, it was discovered that the plant’s assault only continues as long as there is sensible input from the prey (as demonstrated by none other than our dearly departed Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, who survived a cruel attempt on his life by one of the Howarts’ greenhouse elves by offering the plant an excerpt from his famous 1991 Sorting Speech). Subsequently, all wizardfolk tasked with gardening took up carrying ample supplies of Babbling Beverage when tending to the vicious plant.
Original pictures: a)http://www.silkplantusa.com/orchids/single%20stem%20phly%20orchid.jpg
b)http://gvirlouvetflowers.blogspot.com/2007/02/blue-orchid.html
Erased the original background and parts of the plant from a). Erased background and resized b). Copied b) into a), duplicated layers/free transform for additional flowers. Used clone stamp to color the buds. Flattened layers and applied colored pencil filter. Copied into the parchment background, applied eraser background with 10% opacity.
Entry 13
Fiddlehead Nimbletonia
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Nimbletonia.jpg
Entrapment: After falling through the trapdoor, I landed on a soft, spongy surface covered with sticky, hair-like protrusions. The surface angled and allowed me to slide safely to the floor, the stickiness of the protrusions slowing my descent. Lighting my wand, I saw that it was a large plant with many tightly-coiled fronds. As I tried to move past the tight grouping of stems, the fronds began to uncoil, completely transforming the plant. It revealed lighter green, slender leaves, some of which acted as hands to grab me, while others unfurled to reveal a variety of musical instruments, which other leaves strummed, beat, shook or bowed (the sticky sap made good rosin, allowing the leaves to act as a fiddle bow). I realized I was in the clutches of the dreaded Fiddlehead Nimbletonia, a plant that lives to dance and forces anyone in reach to dance as well. I was spun and dragged around to the Mamba, the Foxtrot, Salsa and others I didn’t know. Its sticky fronds allowed it to grab my arms and legs, forcing them to move to the rhythms it chose to play. I knew it would dance me to death if I didn’t do something quickly.
Escape: Frantically trying to think with the strong Latin beat pounding in my head, I watched the way the roots strutted to the music and suddenly realized my salvation was only a song away. Fortunately, I had brought along my Michael Flately moving miniature. Taking quick advantage when the plant dipped me, I managed to get it out and toss it to the floor, then enlarged it to life-size with a quick charm. When the plant tried to grab it to dance, the miniature’s own music started, drowning out the Latin beat of the Nimbletonia. The fabulous footwork of Michael Flately awed the plant so much that the Nimbletonia tried to imitate the quick, nimble dance steps of the Lord of the Dance. As I had suspected, it had never danced that way before and soon had its roots so tangled that it fell flat on its flowers as the leaves that had been strumming the charango, bowing the fiddle and beating the drums completely broke trying to keep up. Humiliated, it closed the yellow flowers to hide the red eyes, retreated back to its furled state to recover, and I was able to escape to face the next challenge.
Using Google images, I found a picture of a Fiddlehead Fern Tree for the dormant state, a picture of a mimulus pilosus from Wikipedia for the active state, and manipulated (cut, shrunk and rotated) various musical instruments to add to it, and last, I found a picture of Michael Flately and put them all together in PhotoShop Elements.
Entry 8
Thanatoplanc
-Root words are 'Thanato' which is 'the Greek personification of Death' and 'Plankton'.
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Thanatoplanc.jpg
-When it is the matter of ‘Life’ and ‘Death’, sometimes you need to die to come out alive.
How the plant traps people?
“What’s this stuff?” were his first words.
“I can’t move. Maybe it’s glue or something. What do you think, Hermione?”
“Don’t move. Stay very still.”
“Well, I can’t even if I wanted to!”
“Do you know what this is?”
“Harry, its Hermione. Of course she knows. You do, don’t you?”
“I think, I know. It is called ‘Thanatoplanc’.”
“Well, my day just keeps on getting better and better. First it was Fluffy and now this thanato-thingy. Did I just die and come to heaven?”
“So, what do you know about it?”
“It is considered to be one of the most dangerous plants’ but it is very useful as many of the Potion ingredients are obtained from it.”
“Must be Snape’s idea of paradise, this!”
“It secretes an adhesive when it comes in contact with anything living and saps the energy out of its victims through its leaves.”
“Great! Now that we know what it is and what it does maybe it will let us through. I am not a ‘bundle of energy’ or anything.”
How can one escape from the plant?
“So, how do we escape from this mess?”
“Don’t tell me, you haven’t read that part!”
“The answer lies partly in the name itself.”
“Would you stop being so cryptic and answer already?”
“Ron, if you don’t stop interrupting, I will apply some of this glue on your mouth.”
“Hermione, the answer.”
“Well, the plant will continue to hold onto us till it thinks that we are alive.”
“Phew! That’s a big relief. I will be free once I am dead.”
“Ron, don’t tempt me! Anyway, if we can fool it to think that we are dead, it will release us.”
“How do we do that?”
“The plant recognizes our presence by smell and if we smell like we are decaying then it will release us. I know a spell that may work.”
“Isn’t there any other way?”
“Yes, there is but it’s too complex. We would have to transfigure ourselves partially into a Wood Snake and play possum. We can then release a liquid from the snake’s glands that gives a rotting smell.”
“We definitely won’t come out smelling like a rose even if we get out of this one, would we?”
-Pretending you are dead, works too!
The type of drawing as seen in the image below is known ‘free hand drawing’ and as the name suggests, the symmetry of the drawing is achieved without making use of any form of help like scale, stencil, etc.
After the scanning of the drawing was done, with the help of ‘Paint’, I inverted the original colors.
The plant I have drawn is totally based on my imagination and I haven’t taken help of any source to achieve this and similarity with any other plant is purely coincidental and maybe possible, given that I haven’t looked at all the 3,50,000 species of the plants.
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