Nightlight Pod

The Nightlight Pod is a short plant with a nearly indestructible shell, drawing attention to its seeds stored inside, which it will only disperse once in its life. It also relies on this armor to keep the plant alive against large creatures and in generally harsh conditions.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Nightlight Pod is made up of a large bulbous growth in the center, covered in rough armored plates. The inside of the plant consists of a large open cavity filled to the brim with nutritious fluid, as well as the plant's seeds attached in clumps to the bottom. The bottom of the plant is surrounded by rough leaf-like structures, and thorny roots below.

Genetics and Reproduction

When the time is right, the Nightlight Pod will begin glowing a bright yellow and emitting a strong scent to attract all sorts of herbivorous creatures. Anything devoted to feeding on this plant will consume the fluid inside its armor, ingesting its seeds in the process. The plant will die soon after, and what few seeds that make it through the creature's digestive tract will quickly burrow into the ground to take root.

Growth Rate & Stages

Newly sprouted pods will consist of a single soft mound of plant tissue, until their armor starts growing. With age, the armor will completely cover the plant's skin, and the leaves underneath will grow larger in proportion to the plant's size. Only as adults, the armor will start to expand and expose a weak point where herbivores can consume the seeds inside, then the plant will emit its strong odors to attract said herbivores.

Ecology and Habitats

Nightlight Pods are only found in the Forests, and are found in sandy basins, flat elevated plains, large rock formations, and sometimes on top of kelp strands. Occasionally, they could be found growing on a certain type of creature in the Forests.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Nightlight Pods are chemosynthetic just like most Nightlight Zone plants.

Biological Cycle

As these plants age, their armor may get darker, or even form rough ridges on the outside. Their leaves can also wither away and fall off, leaving leaf beds underneath the leaves that regrow themselves.

Additional Information

Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms

Among all small creatures, the Probefish is the one that most frequently disperses the Nightlight Pod's spores. These fish have been observed crowding around mature pods in massive quantities, and sometimes starting brawls over who gets their share. Some of these fish have also been seen making nests near these plants to ensure a stable food source for the young.

Scientific Name

Nyxegumen mov

Lifespan

Unknown (But estimated to be just two years at most)

Average Height

2.7 ft.

Average Weight

400 lbs.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Dark purple shell, light green leaves, glowing yellow interior

Geographic Distribution

• The Kelp Forests