Tethered Mine Layer

The tethered mine layer split from its ancestor when the marine mine layers moved into Raq Temperate Bay. Due to the much more hospitable conditions they have increased in size. The leaves have gotten broader in order to take in more sunlight. The only thing that has really changed from their ancestors is their reproduction. Individuals will live for about 5 years, during the first year and a half they do not have any bubbles at all. At the beginning of the second year they will start growing their seed-bubbles (at this point they pretty much look exactly like their ancestor). However once the bubble are fully formed they will begin producing segmented tethers that allow the seeds to float freely above the main body; for the next year these tethered mines will float about, armed to be popped by any passing object. If the mines don't get hit in the first year then the flora will detach the mines at the tethers' base, allowing them to float freely through the water. The seeds themselves are quite hardy, and can survive without germinating for up to 2 years after formation.