Sicklysweet Piloroot
From Sagan 4 Alpha Wiki
| Sicklysweet Piloroot | ||
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| (Lanatosiphon bacchanalis) | ||
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| Information | ||
| Creator | OviraptorFan Other | |
| Week/Generation | 27/167 | |
| Habitat | Fermi Plains, Fermi Steppe, Fermi Subpolar Volcanic, Fermi Prairie, Fermi Bush, Fermi Temperate Volcanic | |
| Size | 2 meters wide, 60 centimeters tall | |
| Primary Mobility | Sessile | |
| Support | Unknown | |
| Diet | Photosynthesis, Detritivore; young only: Facultative Parasite (Fermiblades) | |
| Respiration | Passive (Stomata) | |
| Thermoregulation | Ectotherm | |
| Reproduction | Sexual (Fruit with Seeds), Asexual (Detaching Roots) | |
| Taxonomy | ||
| Domain Kingdom Subkingdom Division Class Order Family Genus Species | Eukaryota Phoenoplastida Phoenophyta (info) Rhagioanthia Phoenopoopsida Pilosotuberales Pilosotuberaceae Lanatosiphon Lanatosiphon bacchanalis | |
| Ancestor: | Descendants: |
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When some Beach Piloroots started to grow inland, they found themselves in a highly competitive floral ecology, with Fermiblades being the dominant low-growing purple flora in the region. Being slower to grow, the Beach Piloroots found themselves overshadowed early on in their lives by these Valadanaceans, only getting by due to being able to subsist on bits of detritus like dead skin shed from fauna as well as getting energy from photosynthesis. In time, these populations of Beach Piloroot would develop adaptations to get past the competiton, eventually establishing themselves a firm roothold in the ecosystem while splitting off into a distinct species of their own right.
Known as the Sicklysweet Piloroot, the most immediate difference seen in the species is their sheer size, having become double the size of their ancestors. This gives them a larger surface area for both photosynthesis and for obtaining detritus. Additionally, the Sicklysweet Piloroot has developed a second whorl of leaves that grows on top of the first whorl, giving them even more surface area for obtaining food. The leaves are still covered in a thick photosynthetic "fur" that helps retain heat, a useful adaptation for a generally cool climate, but the "fur" itself does possess one noticeable change. Unlike the "fur" of their ancestors or relatives, the "fur" of the Sicklysweet Piloroot possesses tiny little barbs along their surface. These hook into the skin of passing fauna, which in turn scrapes off bits of dead skin as they pass by which can then be absorbed for nutrients. Additionally, the barbs catch dirt that gets kicked up by said passing fauna which can also be absorbed for minerals or nutrients.
While fauna can help Sicklysweet Piloroots unintentionally by providing them detritus, they can also intentionally be a threat or disperser to said flora by trying to eat certain parts of it, which has led to a few notable developments. To deter species like the Durameloth from indiscriminately eating the whole thing, the Sicklysweet Piloroot developed a similar solution to the unrelated Skunk's Pheres, tasting awful. Like the Skunk's Pheres, Sicklysweet Piloroots take in sulfur from the volcanic soil they grow in through their roots, which tints their fuzzy leaves with hints of yellow. The high amounts of sulfur in their tissues makes the Sicklysweet Piloroot a relatively unappetizing meal for most herbivores, though certain species of Minikruggs that initially specialized in eating Skunk's Pheres and ignore the sulfur taste readily feed on the Sicklysweet Piloroots anyway.
The one part of the Sicklysweet Piloroot that does not contain sulfur is their fruit, which have also developed a few notable changes. The most prominent one is that the internal cavities of the fruit are no longer filled with air. Instead, they are filled with a sweet liquid which acts as a reward for herbivores that eat said fruit. The liquid itself tastes like that of Terran red cherries, which when combined with the chocolatey taste of the berries' flesh results in the whole berry tasting like cherry-flavored chocolate. The seeds still line the interior wall of the fruit and are able to withstand digestive acids, meaning they can be dispersed quite a distance from their parent and are provided with a large amount of nutrients in the form of fresh dung.
While the fruits are good for dispersal, they have to be fertilized in the first place, which has not really changed that much for any species of piloroot. This process is done by Sicklysweet Piloroots releasing spores into the air, which can be carried quite a distance until they land in the center of another Sicklysweet Piloroot and fertilize it. After that, the individual will grow their seed-bearing fruit that are hopefully eaten by local herbivores for dispersal.
Unlike related species like the Pilonoroot who have completely lost their roots, the ancestral stringy root system has become thicker and more bulbous to better anchor the Sicklysweet Piloroot into the ground, somewhat resembling the roots of the long extinct Piloroot. These roots also take in nutrients from the soil, aiding the leaves with gathering nutrients to sustain the whole organism. The roots also serve another purpose early on in life, as Sicklysweet Piloroots will steal nutrients and energy from nearby Fermiblades as they grow. While this does help boost the growth of the flora and help it reach maturity faster, this adaptation is actually to eliminate the competition for sunlight. This in turn results in a Sicklysweet Piloroot usually being found in a small clearing with little to no Fermiblades growing around it, giving the individual full access to sunlight. While this strategy does serve the Sicklysweet Piloroot well, they aren't dependent on it with saplings being able to grow up just fine without any Fermiblades around, even if it means they take longer to reach maturity. Additionally, the Sicklysweet Piloroot can still grow new individuals asexually from their root systems, though they only do this if they have plenty of energy to spare.
While the Sicklysweet Piloroot's relationship with Fermiblades seems problematic for the latter, the former is kept in check by local wildfires that will occasionally ravage the area. The photosynthetic "fur" of the Sicklysweet Piloroot is easy to ignite, and Sicklysweet Piloroots grow relatively slowly compared to Fermiblades who quickly bounce back in numbers. This in turn means the Sicklysweet Piloroot remain as an uncommon but consistent presence, unable to truly dominate their ecosystem but being more than capable of holding their own against competitors such as the Fermiblades.