Ribbon Willow

The Ribbon Willow has spread into neighboring subtropical regions and become the largest flora in the region at the time. Growing up to 12 meters tall at full growth, the Ribbon Willow now sports 6 conical fronds. From the underside grove of each frond sprouts long twisting ribbons, which serve to increase its usable area for photosynthesis, especially when the star sets and rises and the angle of light changes. Its fronds grow directly opposite one another on its trunk, but will over time twist from their starting positions. This twisting growth results in the trunk itself showing a twist in its structure. This provides the organism with greater flexibility in high winds. Its ribbons will be shed only once they have sustained significant damage from storms or grazers. The ribbon's connection to the main frond can be broken easily once the Ribbon Willow reduces the fluid supply to the connection. As such the ground around the Ribbon Willow is often littered with discarded ribbons, which can provide food for herbivores and detritivores.

Its reproductive bulb has specialized into a crown stem with multiple ledges. The entire surface of this crown stem can produce zoospores which naturally drift from plant to plant with the wind. On contact with another Ribbon Willow crown stem, the zoospores will fuse and transition into male and female gametophyte bulbs. The sex of each bulb is determined randomly, with a near equal distribution of male and female bulbs being produced by fusion events. These bulbs will produce gametes which can undergo two processes to move onto the next stage or reproduction. Each bulb will produce gametes for a period of 2 weeks following their initial growth. If in that period of time, a rain event occurs, male gamete spores will be released into the air to hopefully contact a female bulb and progress to the next stage of reproduction. If there is no rain event within 2 weeks of initial growth, all gametes will be taken into the crown stem to undergo self fertilization. Once fertilized the crown stem will produce zygote bulbs which will distribute zygote spores. These spores have developed waterproof coverings and thus are able to be released even in drought conditions. Germination still relies on damp soil, so zygote spores will lie dormant until water is present. These spores can remain viable for up to 2 years.