Branching Puffstalk

The branching puffstalk, a larger version of the puffstalk, replaced its ancestor thanks to its size, but has little differences otherwise. The puffstalks “ribs” have evolved into extra branches in order to support the weight of the photosynthetic surface and to delive nutrients throughout the body more effectively. Along this line, the stalk for the puffball has become shorter, in order to make the large amount of nutrient transfer to growing spores less wasteful of energy.

Other then outwardly visible differences, the branched puffstalk has also developed male and female sexes in its spores. Each spore, whether male or female, contains only half the total chromosomes (the different sexes have different halves), and will still germinate upon landing, but will only grow a small root system. If this root system encounters another of the opposite sex, then the two will fuse chromosomes and a new plant will grow. If the root system does not encounter another, then if will only grow for a few months as a widening root structure with a small sprout for photosynthesis before dying. Before fusing chromosomes, the germinating spores will grow their roots outward, seeking others, but once a new plant is formed, the roots grow downward, adults having considerably deeper roots then their ancestors.