Glintdagger

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Glintdagger
(Valadanis daciansis)
Main image of Glintdagger
Species is extinct.
21/135, Habitat Loss (Ice Age)
Information
CreatorSomarinoa Other
Week/Generation12/81
HabitatSomarinoa Beach
Size20 cm Tall
Primary MobilitySessile
SupportUnknown
DietPhotosynthesis
RespirationPassive (Stomata)
ThermoregulationEctotherm
ReproductionSexual (Seeds, Airborne Pollen), Asexual Budding
Taxonomy
Domain
Kingdom
Subkingdom
Division
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Eukaryota
Phoenoplastida
Phoenophyta (info)
Rhagioanthia
Phoenopoopsida
Phoenopoales
Valadanaceae
Valadanis
Valadanis daciansis
Ancestor:Descendants:

Because the swiftstrainers were such a semi-migratory species, heading back and forth daily between the Somarinoa Beach and Huggs-Yokto Savanna, they occasionally would get violetblades spores on themselves, mainly during the mating season when they make nests in violetgrasses. When they returned to feed at the beach the following day, they would usually end up depositing these spores onto the beach. Although many of these spores did not survive this new environment, some did, and of these survivors, a new species of plant eventually evolved.


These were called the glintdaggers. Like their ancestors, they have razor-sharp leaves; however, these blades have lost their serrated edges, for favor of a straight, thin edge. At the same time, these thin edges have grown a shiny surface, which is completely waterproof, and thanks to a higher accumulation of plant fibers, is significantly tougher than the rest of the plant. This shiny surface gives the leaves a glint along this edge, especially during dawn and dusk. This glint also functions as a sort of warning against creatures, letting them know that it is sharp and can hurt them if they brush up against the leaves.


Like its ancestor, the bladed leaves protect a central seed, which now lies buried under a thin layer of sand. These seeds continue to remain red in color, but have gained tiny, faintly green waves that run from top to bottom. This does not seem to have anything other than an aesthetic purpose. This seed constantly emits a faint light, which is more apparent during the night, when the sand under the plant glows with a faint red hue.


Biannually, the seed sprouts into a puffy spore. Once this has fully developed, the leaves wither away and fall off. This allows the plant a better chance at coming into contact with the local fauna. When this comes into play, a vast number of pollen-seeds are released from the spore in a small, sweet-smelling cloud, with much of it scattering into the air; however, a fair amount of this pollen-seed tends to get attached to the creature that disturbed the plant, which serves as another form of transportation for seeds.


Even if it is removed from the ground for whatever reason, the glintdagger grass may fully regenerate in only a matter of days, so long as a significant amount of the roots remain intact.


This grass tends to grow further up the beach, away from the reach of the surf, which will take the seeds out to sea.

Notes

Those are supposed to be stickyballs that are attached to certain grass blades. The magnification-inset is also supposed to be the seed.

Living Relatives (click to show/hide)

These are randomly selected, and organized from lowest to highest shared taxon. (This may correspond to similarity more than actual relation)
  • Clusterblades (genus Valadanis)
  • Purple Dotter (family Valadanaceae)
  • Blooblblega (order Phoenopoales)
  • Feroak (class Phoenopoopsida)