Skullcap ivy is benign symbiotic plant that makes its home on the scalps of sentient creatures. The means which the skullcap ivy wispy seedpods finds its way to a human, demihuman or humanoid scalp is on the winds much like a dandelion fluff. Once it finds a scalp it takes root and as it grows it spreads along the scalp, killing off hair follicles in the scalp, creating a vast network of ivy-like shoots. This process does not harm the host. If the host does not wish to have her hair replace with skullcap ivy, then she needs to pull the skullcap ivy out as soon as it starts to grow and then rubbing her head with alcohol, this permanently removes the skullcap ivy. Any hair follicles that are killed off do not grow back (yep if one has her entire head full of skullcap ivy and then removes the ivy she is then bald unless she can find magics to restore her hair).
    The biggest fear is the entangle spell, with which an enemy spellcaster could case the skullcap ivy to wrap around the host's neck. Strangulation occurs if the host fails a reflex save, DC 16, those failing the saving throw take 1d2-hit points of damage per round while the ivy strangles her. For this reason, many skullcap hosts keep the plant growths cut short, or else braid it to confine the ivy shoots.
    Spells such as hold plant have no effect upon either the skullcap ivy or its host, as the plant doesn't move on its own, and the host remains a separate entity. (Growing skullcap ivy on one's head does not make one a plant hybrid.)
    If the wind does not find it an intelligent host (its favorite environment), the seedpod sinks its roots into the soil and becomes a normal, earth-based plant. When the time comes for it to take seed, however, it casts its pods to the fortunes of the wind, trying once again to find its favorite environment (an intelligent host).
    Many Druids and Rangers actively cultivate the plant, nurturing it in their own scalps and encouraging its growth. This aid in the commune with nature, allowing up to 4 facts and increasing the radius effect outdoors by two miles, in addition it also gives the host a limited camouflage ability while within wooded areas. Nymphs and dryads are occasionally seen with full manes of skullcap ivy.
    Other benefits of growing skullcap ivy is that the host gains additional nourishment directly from the plant via photosynthesis, allowing him or her to survive indefinitely on half the normal food and water supply as long as he or she has regular exposure to the sun, it should also noted that the ivy symbiote nature also allows it to thrive even in conditions where it is away from sunlight for extended periods. In addition, both the skullcap and the host are sources of the gases necessary for the other's survival. The skullcap converts the host's exhaled carbon dioxide into oxygen, while the host breathes the oxygen and converts it to carbon dioxide. The amount of fresh air that a skullcap ivy can produced depends on how long it is allowed to grow; a ivy growth that is 4 feet or more in length can produce 1 day worth of fresh air, if shorter than 4 feet in length but more than 2 feet it will produce ½ day worth of air and if hair that is only from 1 foot to 2 feet in length will produce ¼ day of fresh air and finally hair that is only from 6 inches to 1 foot in length will produce ⅛ day of fresh air. This alone makes the skullcap ivy a welcome symbiote among many spelljamming crews.
    On the down side, skullcap ivy produces small blue flowers in the springtime, attracting bees and wasps. Hosts must prepare themselves for the ever-present attentions of such insect during that time of year.
    Cost of enough seeds to start of long beautiful locks of skullcap ivy is 3 sp.

---