Wormbracken





The Wormbracken has become the largest flora in its region, reaching a height of 60 centimetres in the wet tropics of Talon. Its life as a juvenile is much the same as its ancestor. They hatch as males, and will feed on detritus and soft flora as they wander. They have large thorns on their head segment forming a shape similar to a Terran Hammerhead Worm. This large area on their heads increases the area on which they can photosynthesize. Their main goal during this time is to eat as much as possible and build stores of energy for their transition into their sessile adult forms. This can take up to a year, gaining segments as they grow up until they reach 8 centimetres long. At this point they will find a location to settle in and transition into their adult forms.

The head and mouth of the juvenile begin growing upward. The mouth develops into a wide cone to help collect water, while the head segment duplicates multiple times, each with long leaves. These leaves can be articulated to best catch the light, and can be moved apart during high winds so as to avoid catching the wind and causing damage. Their body segments will become buried in the soil and will form the root and anchoring system of the adult. Its thorns will open to allow for growth of the soft interior into a system of branching roots, used to gather water. Their tail segment will produce new segments growing upward to a height of 10 centimetres. Each segment sporting short thorns that spread outward that serve both as surface to photosynthesize with as well as protection for the end segment, which produces the females eggs. Adults will produce eggs from opening in their tail segments, which will be fertilized and transported by wandering males. The females will also produce a sweet sugary secretion mixed with pheromones at the tail which will draw in males. The Eggs will stick to the bodies of the males, which will eventually fall off after being fertilized. Adults can take live up to 10 years reaching full size 2 years after becoming sessile.