Arch Plant

Whereas sargrasso dominates the sandier substrate, fields of arch plants dominate the rocky regions. The tangle of retinalphytes provides a safe place for many of the smaller organisms of Almaishah. This is the goal of the arch plant, the small organisms who take shelter are used as a dispersal method for the archplant. Allowing it to spread farther and more reliably then its pneumos ancestor. [Creature design by Saurusblood]

Basic Information

Anatomy

Arch plants poses two anchor points referred to as a “foot” that resemble the ancestral pneumos. They consist of three leaves that secrete a glue like substance to anchor the retinalphyte to a solid surface (usually a rock). The center of each foot is connected to a specially adapted nutrient tube that acts as the stem of the arch plant. This stem has multiple leaves that produce a bud on the dorsal side. The buds contain small gas pockets that will lift the stem up to create the arched position that the retinalphyte gets its name from. The buds also contain a gamete gel that they secrete onto the leaves.

Genetics and Reproduction

Arch plants are no longer asexual and have become hermaphrodites. Their buds no longer simply release gametes into the water, they now secrete a specialized gel that coats the underside of the leaves. When a free swimming creature brushes up against the leaves it will be coated in the gel and transmit the gametes to the next arch plant they take shelter under. The fertilized gametes will naturally detach from the leaf and be taken by the current until they land on a rock of their own.

Growth Rate & Stages

When a fertile arch plant embryo attaches itself to a solid surface it will begin to grow into the three leafed “foot” that will secret a glue-like substance to keep it firmly attached. It will take on average 30 local days for the foot to grow to its full size and begin the creeping phase. The creeping phase is when the arch plant begins to grow its stem-like tube. It will grow along the ocean floor sprouting leaves that will secrete the glue-like substance to keep the current from hampering its growth. Once a secondary hard surface is found the end of the tube will begin to produce a foot of its own. This process takes on average 240-300 local days depending on how rocky the substrate is and the amount of sunlight the arch plant has access to. Some unfortunate arch plants will grow in a direction that has no hard rocks or corals to attach to, these arch plants never enter into the third and final phase of their life. The final phase is the fully grown arch plants. The leaves that were used to anchor the stem stop producing the glue and detach from the seafloor and their buds will begin producing the gamete gel.

Ecology and Habitats

Arch plants can be found in shallow waters with rocky substrates around Yama and western Kub Shay. Some have been found in coral reefs though they do not seem to thrive in these locations. It is theorized that due to the already crowded nature of reefs that the species the arch plants use for gamete dispersal are more likely to take refuge among the corals than under the leaves of an arch plant.

Genetic Ancestor(s)