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Catpalms (Arthrofelipalmus spp.)
Creator: Disgustedorite
Ancestor: Catbug’s Tail
Habitat: Hydro, Krakow Island
Size: 1.6-12.8 meters tall
Support: Cell Wall (Cellulose), Woody Stem
Diet: Photosynthesis (Full Sun)
Respiration: Passive (Stomata)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Sexual (Hermaphroditic, Spores, Viviparous/Enclosed Propagules)

In the absence of competition following the mass extinction of giant crystal flora, the catbug’s tail, the only vascular purple flora in Hydro, produced larger shrub- and tree-like forms, known as catpalms, which diversified all over the continent. Catpalms differ from their ancestor in two main ways, apart from size: they now have a woody stem with bark, and they shed their old leaves, which together cause them to look remarkably similar to palm trees, down to the scarring. Their leaves turn pink when dry, and they leave pink leaf litter.

Catpalms are sun-loving flora capable of growing in sandy soil and thrive in the absence of shade trees. Unlike their ancestor they are seasonal reproducers, though they do not shed and regrow the entire inflorescence because technically speaking everything above ground is derived from the structure; instead, they shed and regrow only the spikey structures that hold the macrogametes. Similar to their ancestor, they produce microgamete spores from their leaves which fertilize macrogametes in the inflorescence. These develop into “seeds,” which are in reality young catpalms wrapped in a thick water-soluble coating. These vary in size depending on the species, being larger when they are mainly to be distributed by water (such as in the rainforest) and smaller when they are mainly distributed by wind (such as in the savanna). This has a double purpose as well; larger juveniles can also better cope with shade and leaf litter in the more wooded biomes.

There are many species of catpalm. They look more or less the same as one another apart from height and leaf size, though beach-dwelling species are able to cope with salt by releasing it in their soon-to-be-shed old leaves along with other waste. Species dwelling in open biomes tend to be fairly wide, and tall forest-dwelling species retain more leaves for longer to cope with darkness. Small species of the shrublands and young-growth forests tend to be leafier as well. They readily hybridize, speciate, and hybrid-speciate, like many terran trees.

I like how this thing is literally almost completely unrelated to the violetpalms

Apparently Salty didn't know that purple flora technically give live birth before today. Should I phrase the reproduction accordingly?

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Feb 16 2023, 01:28 PM)

Apparently Salty didn't know that purple flora technically give live birth before today. Should I phrase the reproduction accordingly?

Honestly, I feel you should. The clearer the reproduction of these groups are, the better off we will all be. Plus it could go a long way to reducing the use of "seeds" in the purple flora's descriptions. Whatever efforts we can take to reduce the use of improper terminology, the better.

QUOTE (Salty @ Feb 16 2023, 12:50 PM)

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Feb 16 2023, 01:28 PM) Apparently Salty didn't know that purple flora technically give live birth before today. Should I phrase the reproduction accordingly? Honestly, I feel you should. The clearer the reproduction of these groups are, the better off we will all be. Plus it could go a long way to reducing the use of "seeds" in the purple flora's descriptions. Whatever efforts we can take to reduce the use of improper terminology, the better.

Reproduction: Sexual (Hermaphroditic, Spores, Viviparous)

I get that these don't make eggs or seeds, but I think that the label of "viviparous" is a bit unhelpful here. The baby plant doesn't develop inside of the mother plant, it's attached to the outside before falling off.

In more of a philosophical way, I'm also a little unsure of where the "live" part implied in "live birth" stops, anyway. The embryonic cells in an egg or seed are certainly alive, even if 'unborn'. If a purpleflora larva evolves to come in a protective shell that requires pressure to break out of, would that be an 'egg' or 'seed' yet? What about if it gains some sort of nutrient sac to derive nutrients from in there, too? Surely that's a seed or an egg. But if so, what would that in-between stage be?



EDIT: Huh, apparently Merriam-Webster has this very occurrence (for mangroves and similar such plants) recorded as a second definition for "Viviparous". That settles the first bit of my argument. Still, though, if these were to gradually get even more seedlike, when would we draw the line? Would the transitional form just include "(enclosed young)" behind Viviparous?

This post has been edited by Cube67: Feb 16 2023, 03:58 PM

It is indeed called vivipary when a plant reproduces like this. We can worry about in-between stages later. That said, I'm not sure you evolve straight from vivipary to seeds/eggs in plants.

Given that these don't germinate from a seed while on the plant, I think it could happen. The outer coating that just dissolves could be reinforced by inert biomolecules to become some sort of shell, perhaps as defense from predators. Then they may evolve some sort of yolk sac or endosperm-like component to supply extra nutrients to the young. I think I remember one species actually doing the former, but I can't remember (I don't think anything has done the latter, though).

Hey, I noticed the respiration isn't filled out. Wouldn't it just be Passive (stomata)

This post has been edited by Cube67: Feb 18 2023, 11:12 AM

do we know they specifically have stomata? They probably do, but it would not be the only option technically

We don't know, but I thought we assumed they did for the sake of ease of understanding. Maybe ask Ethos if it's okay, or if he had something else in mind. It's probably inevitable that they have stomata or something similar anyway if they wish to be vascular. Maybe they have stomata that are different because they're a slightly different shape, like trifold with overlapping parts or something.

First of all, this is a fantastic genus group.

I'll let yall decide on categorizing the reproduction, I have considered them closer to seeds but no strong opinion. After all, seeds are just lil dormant babies with a nutrient sac (the germ) and their first 1 or 2 leaves already formed. Some oaks (any many others) do germinate on the plant sometimes. Its all just sexual propagules, idk.

I think we should assume there are stomata. The general mechanics of gas exchange would be necessary for any vascular flora, I just never fleshed it out.

I classed it as vivipary because they don't have any sign of a germ analogue.