Orangemat

The orangemat evolved from orangemosses. The cells have become more complex and form mats that can grow to be tens of meters wide if not disturbed. They are rectangular so they can fit together with greater ease. In order to keep the mat from falling apart, these cells will excrete an adhesive substance to hold themselves together. However, cells on the bottom of the mat will grow flagella and anchor themselves to the riverbed. These mats are relatively fragile, so while the mats can grow to be tens of meters long, they normally stay around 20 cm to a couple of meters in diameter due to them constantly being broken apart by flowing water, organisms disturbing the soil, and/or pieces of the mat being eaten by herbivores. However, these cells do far better in large groups, as the mat-forming cells will transfer excess nutrients to adjacent cells, keeping the whole mat well-fed. If a piece of mat survives being torn off of its home mat, or an individual cell lands on the riverbed, it or they will form new mats. Due to the large numbers of small genus species competing with it, it will smother anything less than one centimeter tall. This eliminates a large chunk of the orangemat's competition. However, if the mat encounters a larger species (bigger than one cm) while it spreads, it will simply grow around it. Due to the mat's ability to share excess nutrients, it can deal with larger species blocking out some sunlight. Also, to keep new flora from growing on top of it, the cells on top of the mat will excrete a rather strong enzyme that dissolves any type of spore, seed, or fragmented piece of plant matter that lands on it. After the spore, seed, or fragmented piece of plant matter is dissolved, the orangemat cells will absorb the nutrients from whatever it dissolved. However, it primarily gathers nutrients from floating pieces of detritus that land on the mat, which it will also dissolve