Tropical Foliostrum
Tropical Foliostrum split from its ancestor, colonizing the undergrowth across the tropical forests of eastern Glicker. It has thin, leafy membranes growing out from the main appendages to maximize photosynthetic area. Each set of leaf appendages lasts until the early dry season, then withers and makes way for a new set. This continues for several years until individuals reach full size, increase reproductive activity, and slowly die for about a year. The root system is shallow and fibrous. Reproduction is modified from its ancestor, with microscopic gametes being shed from the bottoms of leaf appendages and landing on small hairs in the same region of another individual. These gametes can travel short distances by wind (tens of meters). Upon contact, fertilization occurs and a new individual grows with a small membrane around it that degrades upon contact with moist soil.
This species has evolved phenolic secondary metabolites that make above-ground tissues slightly more UV-tolerant and toxic to herbivores. Some of these compounds are polymerized to strengthen cell walls.