Porphyry Rose

The porphyry rose (Rosa Pia) is a species of rose native to the Haeliconian lowlands in the Kingdom of Pimar. It is notable as the source of a natural purple pigment called Pimaran Porphyry, which is derived from its petals.

Processing
In their natural state, the petals of the porphyry rose are a deep red color. However, when boiled in a vat of urine, the pigments that leach out of the petals undergo a chemical transformation that turns them purple. Cloth that is dipped into this vat will take on a distinctive vibrant violet hue when it dries, though it will appear blue while wet.

Approximately fifteen acres of roses are required to produce enough petals to dye one bale of cotton, and the process of harvesting the flowers and separating their petals is extremely labor-intensive. As a result, cloth dyed by this process is extremely expensive - made even moreso by the Pimaran monopoly on the production of the flower.