Pandocrystal

The Pandocrystal split from its ancestor and moved into the polar regions. Similar to its cousins, the vesuvianite tree and the mangrove crystal, it has gained more branches. It has completely taken over Drake Taiga at the time of writing, growing very tall and producing a single sprawling clonal colony that spans the entire biome. This massive colony is the largest single organism on Sagan 4 at the time of evolution, exceeding the size of the orbit voltflora by at least several hundred fold. Smaller groves can also be found scattered about Drake Polar Scrub.

The Pandocrystal produces new branches as it grows taller and sheds old ones, leaving behind scars which may superficially resemble eyes. This is because newer branches cast shade on older ones, making them a useless burden. During the long polar winter nights, the crystal leaves turn orange and eventually red as the chlorophyll within fades and exposes the red pigmentation of the core, as there is no point in performing photosynthesis without light; the crystals return to their former green color once the sun returns. Fallen crystals are typically orange or red as a result of the chloroplasts within them dying.

The Pandocrystal can only reproduce asexually. This puts it at a severe competitive disadvantage in terms of genetic flexibility, however at the time of evolution it had no competition keeping it in check. Within a clonal colony, young trees are provided with nutrients by their neighbors so that they can reach the canopy and start collecting sunlight on their own.