Astermancerxia
Astermancerxia, commonly known as Asterplents, are an order of terrestrial Panasterizans which are distinguished by their distinctive reproductive anatomy. They are named for, and convergent with, the extinct Florapods as well as the Tree Plents of another timeline. Their crown group consists of descendants of the Asterplent.
Anatomy
General
The typical adult Asterplent has a round or roughly cone-shaped body which is almost entirely reproductive organ. A pair of leaves extend from either side of the reproductive opening, and surrounding it for support are leg-like leaves--derived from ancestral Asterzoan arms--which serve as support. There are roots on the underside which grow underground to collect water and nutrients.
The typical juvenile Asterplent is similar to the adult, but with a smaller reproductive organ, more functional leg-leaves, and a set of large fronds or hairs growing from the paired leaves. They spend much of their life as aeroplankton, but they land periodically to absorb food such as microbes through their roots.
Symmetry
Crown-group Asterplents are unique among Asterzoa in that they are biradial--that is to say, they have 2 planes of symmetry. The ancestral state of Asterzoa is to have 4 planes of symmetry, but the development of the paired leaves removed 2 of those planes. In effect, just as the left and right of a bilateral organism such as yourself are more or less the same, the "front" and "back" of Asterplents is as well, though they retain a distinct top and bottom.
Blood and Respiration
Adult Asterplents respire passively through stomata, much like Terran plants. Juveniles respire mainly through their roots, which act somewhat like a gill thanks to their large surface area; as it can be prone to drying out, some species such as the Basket Asterplent have derived a cover to protect them. Although their respiration is passive, even faunal juvenile Asterplents do not have the same size restrictions as Terran insects due to their ability to produce their own oxygen.
The ancestral Asterplents, being brainless and having slow metabolisms, had little need for blood. However, the Pitfall Asterplent developed hemocyanin to support a larger mature juvenile size.
Evolution
The first Astermancerxian, the Skydrift Leafstar, appeared in Week 2, Generation 14. However, the last common ancestor of all living Asterplents, the original Asterplent, did not appear until week 2, generation 15. The Skydrift Leafstar lacked distinguishing traits of later Astermancerxians, such as the paired leaves, protection against self-pollination, and the ability to produce male gametes in its reproductive organ (instead releasing them from its leaves like most other Panasterizans). These features all first evolved in Asterplent.
Subgroups
Family †Mancermounidae
The extinct, ancestral Asterplents which lacked their distinctive pair of leaves.
Family Astermancerxidae
Primitive Asterplents which have small, airborne larvae with slow metabolisms.
Family Canistromancerxidae
Asterplents with woody endoskeletons, eyes as larvae, and a set of "jaws" which are used to protect their reproductive organ.
Family Talpamancerxidae
Burrowing asterplents which plant themselves using their clawed feet, exposing only their leaves and reproductive opening.
Family Cactomancerxidae
Asterplents with succulent leaves and a sphincter around their reproductive opening, which are generally adapted to arid conditions.