Puffstalk

Splitting off from its ancestor, the puffstalk took advantage of the lack of large flora in the Yokto Forest to grow significantly larger, becoming the main flora for the area. The former “dress” was elevated above the ground in order to avoid competition with smaller flora and to keep it above the snow during winter. It has also developed a waxy coating on this main surface which helps prevent water loss, makes snow slide off during the winter, and makes the plant more difficult to eat (the wax gets stuck on the teeth). In order to support its large platform-leaf, the puffstalk has a number of “ribs” on the underside, providing additional support.

The puffstalk gets its name from its reproductive organ (the orange bulb on the end of its stalk), which, unlike its ancestors, no longer opens to propel out spores, but quickly contracts, sending a spout of spores out the top. Spore release is still triggered by vibration either coming from wind or passing animals, although for the latter now serves to get the spores onto the animals which will carry them elsewhere, rather then a defense mechanism. The spores themselves now only carry half a chromosome, and upon landing in a suitable area, only grow a rudimentary root system that dies within a few days unless the roots meet with those of another germinating spore, in which case they fuse genetic material and a new puffstalk grows. However, spores from the same puffstalk can still fuse, allowing it to reproduce asexually if there are no others around.