Eeyore Stalks

Eeyore stalks are the descendants of the prickly, light-grey sunstalk species depicted on the sunstalks genus page. They are adapted for life in the Coolsteph desert. The prickles discourage feeding upon by fauna. The prickles also provide "footholds" for spores to settle on, and help an individual eeyore stalk climb things. It can climb other eeyore stalks, suncatcher plyents, boomsticks, thorny hedgelogs, and even fuzzweeds. (Though they soon outgrow fuzzweeds due to incompatible maximum sizes.) They are not limited to climbing flora, for they can also climb onto the bones of a dead magnificent slaesosaurus. They have a tendency to grow onto the ribs, making it seem the skeleton is resting inside a snug "house" of sticks. The prickles contain phytoliths of calcium oxalate, similarly to cacti and baobabs. Along with the texture deterrents of being hard and sharp, the calcium oxalate phytoliths immediately produce a burning sensation upon biting among some fauna. Calcium oxalate also decomposes into carbon dioxide, a powerful fire retardant, when fire temperatures reach 370°C. Though this may seem like a great adaptation against boomstick-caused blazes, eeyore stalks unfortunately do not have enough calcium oxalate to extinguish most fires, nor are they fire-resistant enough to endure high temperatures until their phytoliths' temperature reaches 370°C. Eeyore stalks are covered in a thin, glaucous wax that reflects sunlight, helping it survive in desert conditions. Another trait that helps it survive is its tendency to grow in the shade of other flora. Eeyore stalks that grow on other eeyore stalks have small, inconspicuous roots. These roots grow into the broccoli-like flesh of the individual it is growing on. This relationship may seem parasitic, but since all eeyore stalks are clones, it hardly matters. The increased height of the secondary stalk allows that stalk to spread its spores better, indirectly benefiting the pseudo-parasitized host. ''"Twinkoid" spore. The shape is called "Twinkoid" because it resembles a Twinkie brand snack cake that is flattened on top.'' Due to their ability to use vertical space by climbing each other, the potential density of eeyore stalks per square meter is greater than that of its ancestor. Thus, the number of spores can potentially reach "choking haze" levels on smaller areas. Eeyore stalks can be found on all of Coolsteph Island, but the population is most concentrated in the range shown above. The yellow spore chamber of its ancestors is no longer exposed. It is surrounded by four fleshy "petals", which split outward at the tips. Other than this, the spore chamber is identical, as seen in the cross-section below. Drakescooters may take shelter in eeyore stalk "thickets." Desert gossalizards may also make their burrows beside eeyore stalk thickets, for the eeyore stalks' roots make the sand more stable. Tepoflora may grow inside eeyore stalk thickets.