Blueleaf

A blueleaf was a type of tree found in Faerûn. Bluewood was the name of the wood taken from this tree.

Description
The tree resembled a large maple. It was so named for the color of its leaves, which were a strange, gleaming blue and had many points. They actually glowed with a faint, blue light.

The wood of the tree was surprisingly durable; the relatively thin trunk rarely broke, even when under extreme stress. They bent in winds and under snows, and in winter they could stabilize snow tunnels over roads that sheltered travelers. Blueleafs often grew in thick copses and typically reached heights of 40 feet (12 meters).

Usage
Blueleaf leaves and sap could be crushed to make a bright blue dye often used in clothing manufacture in the North. These could also be burned to produce vivid, jumping blue flames that were favored by minstrels and storytellers for special effects.

The wood of the blueleaf tree, known as bluewood, was used by Volodni craftsfolk to make weapons and armor. Bluewood was magically treated to become as hard as steel, though it weighed half as much.

Habitats

 * Blueleafs were often found north of Amn, in humid temperate and subarctic latitudes.
 * Evereska
 * Ardeep Forest on the Sword Coast North
 * High Thorog in the Nether Mountains
 * Banks of the Laughingflow in the Evermoors
 * Silverymoon (Silver Marches), where most streets were lined with blueleafs
 * Hermit's Wood in Cormyr, where they grew in large groves.
 * The Vast Swamp, with stunted trees growing around the fringe.
 * The Shadow Swamp (a reflection of the Vast Swamp) in the Plane of Shadow, around the Shadow Citadel.
 * A small number of these trees grew on the island of Evermeet.

A blueleaf tree was the location of a portal between Eveningstar and Suzail.

Appearances

 * Novels:
 * Farthest Reach
 * Sword of the Gods