Petalbract

Petalbract split from its ancestor by adapting to extremely rocky and sandy environments. Because of its well-drained and arid environment, water is only available for a short time on rare occasions, so this organism has developed fleshier bracts. Long, fibrous roots maximize underground surface area and squeeze between sand grains and cracks in rock. Reproduction is similar to its ancestor, with small reproductive appendages occasionally growing on bract tips and being fertilized by airborne gametes. Fruits are smaller, about 5 mm wide and more round than that of its ancestor. They also have thicker coatings which take longer to break down, sometimes years. This allows longer dispersal distances and higher survival, resulting in many geographically isolated populations occurring throughout the sandy and rocky areas of western Darwin, Glicker, and Barlowe.