Giant Butterwort

A carnivorous bog plant whose flat, greasy leaves glue down anything that steps on them, then roll up into a tight cocoon that slowly digests the catch.

Setting: Dragon Magazine · Sources: Dragon167

Appearance

The giant butterwort forms a rosette of 2-8 oblong leaves, each about 6 feet long and pale yellow-green. The leaves look greasy, carry a faint fungal smell, and lie flat on the ground, blending into the terrain so well that victims take -2 on surprise rolls.

Combat

Glands on the leaves secrete a sticky mucilage that traps anything walking across them. The plant then tries to curl every leaf up over its prey, attacking as its Hit Dice allow, and wraps itself into a sealed bundle of leaves that floods with digestive juices for 1-4 damage per round. A victim holding a small edged weapon can cut free by dealing damage equal to half the plant's total hit points. Rescuers striking from outside split their damage evenly between the plant and the trapped victim. Generous amounts of alcohol neutralize the mucilage.

Habitat and Society

One of the most adaptable carnivorous plants, it grows anywhere from arctic to tropical climates, preferring acidic or alkaline bogs with damp to waterlogged soil.

More: Monsters starting with G · Dragon Magazine monsters · All monsters A-Z

Statistics

Climate/TerrainAny bogs, marshes, or swamps
FrequencyUncommon
OrganizationSolitary
Activity CycleDay
DietCarnivore
IntelligenceNon- (0)
TreasureIncidental (10% chance each of J,K,M; 5% chance each of Q and one small magical item)
AlignmentNeutral
No. Appearing1-6
Armor Class7
Movement0
Hit Dice5
THAC015
No. of Attacks1
Damage/AttackSee below
Special AttacksDissolving, surprise
Special DefensesNil
Magic ResistanceNil
SizeM
MoraleAverage (10)
XP Value420