Tethered River Crystal

The tethered river crystal replaced its ancestor, the river crystal in the Yokto River and Marsh, as well as driving the binucleus hollow crystal to extinction in those areas, being able to both grow larger and bring its main photosynthesizing body closer to the surface. This is due to its “tether” roots which anchor it to the bottom while also standing the main body higher, whether it be underwater or on wet ground. Its larger root structure also allowed it to make better use of soil nutrients, allowing it to grow larger in shorter periods of time. Like its ancestor, the tethered root crystal will move if the location does not offer enough sunlight, which happens because the main body will break down its own root structure to get the extra nutrients it needs, eventually causing it to break off from the ground where it was and float to a new location, where it will re-root again.

Another major change from its ancestor is that the tethered river crystal spore undergo meiosis before being released, leaving them with only half the needed chromosomes. These spores then bond and merge with partner spores from other individuals before being able to grow. However, the tethered root crystal still reproduces asexually by means of the budding of new individuals from existing root structures. In addition, the sharp corners of the main body, being often subject to injury or wearing from passing particles, have become more rounded.