Spiral Plant

Spiral Plants are purple photosynthesizers which can have many leaves, a single stem, and roots. [Creature design by Baelethal]

Basic Information

Anatomy

Spiral plants have many small leaves arranged in a spiral pattern around the central stem. This allows the organism to more efficiently catch sunlight for photosynthesis than a single large leaf. The long stem is flexible and has air pockets within it to help it float in the water. This allows it to grow much taller than it otherwise would be able to. Its roots do not grow to make a large network like in other retinalphytes. The spiral plant roots only reach about 10cm from the base of the plant.

Genetics and Reproduction

Reproduction is asexual, new organisms are formed from parts of the plant being broken off and landing in a new spot where it can grow a new root network into the ground. The plant becomes more likely to break as it grows, meaning that once fully grown individuals have formed in an area, they end up scattering many new individuals around them.

Growth Rate & Stages

It takes about 80 hours for a new plant to grow from a small piece landing in the substrate. It takes a much shorter 40 hours for any damaged organism to regrow most of the stem. This all assumes that the water is rich with nutrients. The less nutrients in the water the slower the plants grow.

Ecology and Habitats

Spiral plants grow near shore, but because they rely on buoyancy for their structure they do not grow in the intertidal zone.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

The main habitat of spiral plants is the coastal shores of the northern Natash peninsula, to the coastal shores of Eastern Cha Ttang and southern shores of Arctica.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Boseo

Scientific Name

Dolichocaulus spierus

Origin/Ancestry

Retinalphyta

Average Height

50 cm