Dry Shrubite

The dry shrubite split from their ancestor. They have adapted to life inland, migrating to the uninhabited biomes of Maineiac. Their outer coating is now bone-dry, with the live part of the organism a few cm in. They are slightly larger than their ancestor, however they grow extremely slowly, leeching their nutrients out of the soil and sand surrounding them. If they deplete their nutrients and microbe supply, they will hibernate for months, or even years, until they have regained an available supply of microbes. They reach full size after a few decades, however they can live an vastly extended lifespan, with many reaching several centuries in age. Like their ancestors, they reproduce by budding, releasing microscopic buds to be carried by the air to new areas. These buds have developed a fluffy film, which help them spread farther.