Sugary Minicrystal

(The sugary minicrystal's roots have been shown in a cutaway view in a compromise between a full-body picture and how it would be observed in nature)

The sugary minicrystal developed from spores that sprouted on adult pioneer minicrystals. Their tiny fungal roots found their way into the pioneer minicrystal through the pores in the pioneer minicrystal's chitin crystals. There, they fed on any spores sent to the area by dissolving it with root acid and absorbing the resulting "soup." On account of greater surface area, the surrounding fungal flesh did not dissolve as easily, but that was dissolved and digested as well. (The modern sugary minicrystal is much better at dissolving fungal flesh.)

As a parasite, the sugary minicrystal is greatly reduced. Their photosynthetic parts are shorter and simpler, being pyramid-like rather than pyramid-topped spires. The fungal base is so small it is hidden beneath the base of the pyramid, and the roots are less feathery in their branching abundance.

Sugary minicrystals reproduce by "stolons". These are not true stolons like the "runners" of a strawberry, as they are not above-ground. These are instead roots which spread horizontally from the parent crystal and then upward, eating away at the chitin of the host from the inside. Once exposed, a photosynthetic pyramid grows from the fungal tip of the stolon.

While sugary minicrystals derive all their minerals and water from their host, they still create sugars from photosynthesis. This means that sugary minicrystals are technically hemiparasites, not full parasites. While it has less surface area to absorb sunlight, it produces sugars in the same concentrations as its larger ancestor. The sugary minicrystals spends less of its sugar on root growth. This, along with its small size, means it is more concentrated in sugar than the pioneer minicrystal, hence the name. On account of its greater sugar content, the parasites are a favored food of the Dwarf Maineiac Gilltail.