Cryosteeple

Cryostepple has taken the reproductive chain and created a permanent photosynthetic structure. These chain fronds extend from the edge of the dome, which itself is much reduced. Silicon is still used as support for the organism and now forms flexible supports for the chain fronds, accumulating in specialized spheroid regions. They are unconnected so as to allow the fronds to move freely in the water, but still providing strength and a deterrent to grazers. Reproduction is now spore-based with spores being produced from the tips of the fronds, which will swim and fuse with other spores to germinate into new Cryostepple on fresh substrate. Although it has lower silicon requirements than its ancestor, it still does best in high-silicon environments.