Glass Flora

Glass Flora are the floral descendants of the Glaalgae. These organisms are found in the northern hemisphere of Sagan 4.

Anatomy
Glass flora generally have a simple body design. Present in all glass flora are a soft and spongy interior body, a hard, transparent chitin shell that focuses light to help the blue photosynthetic cells underneath photosynthesize and keep the flora warm, and a root bulb with small roots positioned around the bulb. The symbiotic glass flora have a water-filled chamber in the center that grows cryodome hydroutine.



Diet & Energy
Most Glass Flora depend primarily on photosynthesis for energy. Decedents of the hollow cryodome, however, have a symbiotic relationship with cryodome hydroutine that provides most, if not all, of their energy.

Evolution
The original microscopic decedent of the glass flora was the cryotower. The first glass flora too have the characteristic glass shell was the glaalgae.

Locomotion
As they are flora, all glass flora are stationary.

Reproduction
Most glass flora are asexual, but the fruiting cryobowl and decedents use sexual reproduction.

Senses
Most Glass Flora do not have senses. The cryolens, though, can detect shadows to influence the growth of its lens.

Size
Most Glass Flora are relatively small. The largest glass flora is the box cryobowl, whose female gender can reach 30 cm wide.

Types of Glass Flora
Tower Glass Flora - The cryostalk and its decedents, besides the cryolens and decedents. These glass flora grow upward into towers.

Domed Glass Flora - The cryodome and its decedents, besides the hollow cryodome and its decedents. These glass flora lie low to the ground, more horizontal than vertical.

Symbiotic Glass Flora - The hollow cryodome and its decedents. These form a symbiotic relationship with cryodome hydroutine, or culture the microbe for other purposes. These are some of the most successful glass flora, and can survive without light.

Lensed Glass Flora - The cryolens and decendents, which use a lens to focus light onto competing flora.

Colony Glass Flora - The poolalgae and decedents. These glass flora form colonies.