Glass Flora

Glass Flora are the floral descendants of the Glaalgae. These organisms are found throughout Sagan4.

Anatomy
Glass flora generally have a simple body design. Present in all glass flora are a soft and spongy interior body, a hard, transparent chitin shell that focuses light to help the blue photosynthetic cells underneath photosynthesize and keep the flora warm, and a root bulb with small roots positioned around the bulb. The symbiotic glass flora have a water-filled chamber in the center that grows cryodome hydroutine, a methanogenic microbe.



Diet & Energy
Most Glass Flora depend primarily on photosynthesis for energy. Decedents of the hollow cryodome, however, have a symbiotic relationship with the methanogenic cryodome hydroutine that provides most, if not all, of their energy.

Evolution
The original microscopic decedent of the glass flora was the cryotower. The first glass flora too have the characteristic glass shell was the glaalgae.

Locomotion
As they are flora, all glass flora are stationary.

Reproduction
Most primitive glass flora are asexual, but the fruiting cryobowl and decedents use sexual reproduction.

Senses
Most Glass Flora do not have senses. The cryolens, though, can detect shadows to influence the growth of its lens.

Size
Most primitive Glass Flora are relatively small, though more advanced species, such as the glasstowers, can grow over half a meter.

Types of Glass Flora
Domed Glass Flora - The decedents of the cryodome and the cryotower, besides the hollow cryodome and its decedents. These glass flora are small, and simple in structure.

Symbiotic Glass Flora - The hollow cryodome and its decedents. These form a symbiotic relationship with cryodome hydroutine, or culture the microbe for other purposes. These are some of the most successful glass flora, and can survive without light.

Glasstowers - Similar in structure to symbiotic glass flora, but filter feed the cryoutine, are generally much larger, express sexual dimorphism, and have either one or many fruit.

Colony Glass Flora - The poolalgae and decedents. These glass flora form colonies.