Crowngea

The crowngea replaced its ancestor in the southern regions of Sagan 4, nearly doubling in size. Its webbed "crown" has become stiffer, allowing it to catch the wind more easily. Because of this, it has used the air and water currents to spread into the open ocean and some temperate waters. A mutation copied the webbing onto the roots and leaves, allowing it to catch more sunlight and trap more nutrient-rich water. It retains the same "shut-down" mechanism as its ancestor, going into a hibernation state if conditions worsen. Individuals live for 4 years, budding during the warm seasons. Immature individuals have shorter extremities and softer crowns, but will grow out their tentacles and stiffen their crowns as they age.