Tetracone Puffgrass
| Tetracone Puffgrass | ||
|---|---|---|
| (Thalassastipes fermiensis) | ||
 | ||
 | ||
 | ||
| Information | ||
| Creator | OviraptorFan Other | |
| Week/Generation | 27/167 | |
| Habitat | Fermi Marsh, Fermi Mudflat, Fermi Temperate Woodlands | |
| Size | 80 centimeters tall, varied colony width | |
| Primary Mobility | Sessile | |
| Support | Unknown | |
| Diet | Photosynthesis | |
| Respiration | Passive (Stomata) | |
| Thermoregulation | Ectotherm | |
| Reproduction | Sexual (Male and Female, Spores, Cone), Asexual (Runners) | |
| Taxonomy | ||
| Domain Kingdom Subkingdom Division Class Order Superfamily Family Genus Species | Eukaryota Phoenoplastida Phoenophyta (info) Rhagioanthia Phoenocarpopsida Phoenocarpales Cryoanthacea Thalassastipaceae Thalassastipes Thalassastipes fermiensis | |
| Ancestor: | Descendants: |
|---|---|
Although originally adapted for life out at sea and in coastal areas, the relative lack of competition within parts of Fermi would tempt some Raft-Building Cone Puffgrass to spread inland, eventually splitting off into a unique taxon. With virtually no competition to speak of for flora in its size range, this descendant known as the Tetracone Puffgrass has quickly become a dominant presence in its habitats.
The species' oceanic ancestry is still quite prominent, with the Tetracone Puffgrass still possessing adaptations for dealing with salt even though it is not exposed to it in parts of its range. For example, the species will still transport excess salt into a few designated leaves that then get shed while also secreting salt from said leaves in areas with extremely high amounts of salt. Additionally, the species can still cease the absorption of water at all, which also prevents salt build up but can also help the species tolerate periods of time where the soil gets extremely saturated with water in parts of their range. While these adaptations are particularly useful for places like the Fermi Marsh, they are rarely if ever used in places like the Fermi Temperate Woodlands where the soil is overall drier. The species does have some notable preferences, growing best in soggy, nutrient rich soils with a neutral pH.
Like their ancestor, the Tetracone Puffgrass can reproduce asexually using runners, which are formed at the edge of their massive colonies. Since they are not used for holding together pieces of driftwood, these runners are solely used for colonizing new territory or bouncing back from local disturbances. When things get crowded however, the species can switch to sexual reproduction, using their bifurcated reproductive stems. The process itself is unchanged; male spores being airborne and landing in female cones to fertilize them, with the resulting fertilized spores being dispersed using the long hairs that give the puffgrass lineage their name. They germinate early, producing necessary structures such as leaves and roots so that they can obtain food and water while waiting to land in a suitable place to grow.