Shootstems
Shootstems are a diverse genus of violet flora which have colonized much of the southern regions of Wright. They are adapted to live in dry and semi-arid climates with some species even adapting to fully arid climates. To resist drying out, all Shootstems possess a thick cuticle to reduce water loss and an extensive and dense root system to collect as much water as possible.
The Shootstem's reproduction has developed significantly. Their “seed” is not like a Terran plant seed. It is a spore seed, holding a zygote inside a protective waterproof shell. This spore seed can remain dormant in the soil for multiple years until conditions are right for them to germinate. Once the Shootstem germinates, they will grow rapidly, reaching full size in the span of a few months to a few weeks, depending on the wetness of the region and the duration of the available water. Once a shoot reaches full size, it will begin the process of reproduction. Shoots possess both male and female gametes. Most species produce these gametes on small specialized reproductive fronds along the edges of their shoots, while others produce gametes in cap-shaped structures at the shoots' end. These gametes take the form of airborne spores, and male gametes will drift in the air until reaching and fusing with a female gamete. The fused gametes will create a zygote which will be encased in a waterproof shell. These spore seeds are 100-400 micrometers in size and can drift in the wind to a new location.
Shootstems are annual flora, going through their entire lifespan within a single year. Desert and scrub-land varieties have spore seeds which can remain dormant in the soil for decades, while grassland species have less long-lived spore seeds but are more likely to germinate yearly. Desert species tend to be smaller and have more reduced reproductive fronds, while grassland species are much larger and have larger reproductive fronds. They have been unable to expand their range into wet tropical regions due to competition with flora already present there. Their range is thus restricted to the entirety of Dixon, Ovi south of its tropical rainforest, and Talon and Orpington excluding their monsoon and tropical rainforests.
Image by Salty