Moleroot

The Moleroot split from its ancestor when a population of Quillfences, grew unusually deep underground, better protecting them from predators. The tuber of the Moleroot lives about 2 feet below the surface, growing toward the strongest source of nitrogen that it detects to feed the nitrocycle microbes all through its body. It will grow toward this source and once it is depleted it will slowly grow to the next.

As a whole, the Moleroot is perennial, but will send out shoots on a regular basis as it moves along underground. The shoots sprawl across the ground. These shoots are short-lived, dying off a half-month before most other flora in the area. As the shoot dies, the nutrients are redistributed to the tuber. At this point the shoot stands vertical. A slight breeze will come along, shaking the shoot and dislodging the packets of spores (1mm in size) from the inside of the hollow quills. This shaking makes a sound similar to a rattlesnake until the spores are ejected out of the quill.

Reproduction

While Moleroots are faster than most Terran plants, it still moves slowly. This means that an encounter with another Moleroot is uncommon. When it does happen, both Moleroots release a cloud of gametes from root spikes located on the bottom of the Moleroot. The two Moleroots travel through this cloud absorbing & fertilizing them. These fertilized gametes travel up the stalk to become the spore capsules. If a Moleroot doesn’t meet with another Moleroot, it will undergo this process itself.