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Name: Beach Bubbleweed (Aquaspherica harenosus)
Ancestor: Marine Bubbleweed
Creator: HethrJarrod
Habitat: (Polar, Subpolar, Temperate) (Arid, Beach, Coasts)
(Adult) Wind Polar Beach, Darwin Barrens, Darwin Tundra, Voyager Barrens Archipelago, Voyager Archipelago Beaches, Badger Subpolar Beach, Morokor Subpolar Beach, Iituem Temperate Beach, Iituem Temperate Archipelago Beaches, (Seed Bubbles) Badger Subpolar Coast, Raq Subpolar Coast, Iituem Temperate Bay, Wind Polar Coast, Morokor Subpolar Coast, Austin Temperate Bay
Size: 1m tall
Support: Cell Wall (Cellulose), Flotation Bubbles (Hydrogen)
Diet: Photosynthesis
Respiration: Passive (Stomata)
Thermoregulation: Ectotherm
Reproduction: Asexual, Hydrogen-filled Seed Bubbles

The marine bubbleweed and made its way onto the south polar and subpolar regions of Wallace using its flotation bubbles and spread along the southern coast. This new population evolved into something new. Unlike its ancestor, it is no longer a long stalk with flotation bubbles. Its leaves are waxy to prevent desiccation. It has developed a loose root system and formed a symbiosis with nitrogen fixing microbes in the soil. The leaves remain near the base while the flotation seed bubbles are attached at the end of long thin strands. These bundles of bubbles can provide cover for smaller predators. If something disturbs or pops the bubbles, it can cause the entire bunch to pop, which spreads the tiny seeds. This is because the microscopic seeds are embedded into the membrane. If nothing disturbs them, eventually they break off naturally and float around in the air before popping.

The beach bubbleweed also goes dormant during the winter, leaving just the roots for it to grow back from in the springtime.



This post has been edited by HethrJarrod: May 30 2023, 05:14 PM

While the growth form is cute, this is a somewhat drastic change. I'd make the balloon strings come off the tips of the leaves to be more consistent with the ancestor.

I really like this setup, is the 1 m height including the bubbles on stalks?

QUOTE (colddigger @ Apr 5 2023, 03:28 PM)

I really like this setup, is the 1 m height including the bubbles on stalks?

Yes

Did you see my comment about the positions of the bubbles?

Would the bubbles still float? Since air is less dense than water.

QUOTE (Disgustedorite @ Apr 29 2023, 05:28 PM)

Did you see my comment about the positions of the bubbles?

Got the new art for it posted... Hope you like it...

needs binomial name

good new image.





So in your description you've made the float a distinct object from the seed, and the seed very tiny.






I think it would be good to expand on that, but I also like how simple the description is.

Added Binomial name:
Aquaspherica harenosus

Harenosus ~ “sand-covered”

I do wonder about the float structure.

Maybe stating that the tiny seeds are scattered throughout the membrane of the bubble, so that upon popping they are released and scattered? I think in ancestors it was something akin to the bubble itself being the asexual seed, but it should be easy to just duplicate the point of growth on it given its so ambiguous.

QUOTE (colddigger @ May 21 2023, 11:01 PM)

I do wonder about the float structure. Maybe stating that the tiny seeds are scattered throughout the membrane of the bubble, so that upon popping they are released and scattered? I think in ancestors it was something akin to the bubble itself being the asexual seed, but it should be easy to just duplicate the point of growth on it given its so ambiguous.

Yes, I think in the ancestors it was something like microscopic seeds embedded into the hydrogen-filled membrane

Approval Checklist:
Art:
Art Present?: y
Art clear?: y
Gen number?: y
All limbs shown?: y
Reasonably Comparable to Ancestor?: y
Realistic additions?: y

Name:
Binomial Taxonomic Name?: y
Creator?: y

Ancestor:
Listed?:
What changes?:

• External?: better root system, larger bubbles, stalks for bubbles, stout leave cluster and lack of leaf stem
• Internal?:
• Behavioral/Mental?:

Are Changes Realistic?: y
New Genus Needed?: y, better root system and bubble stalks

Habitat:
Type?: polar, subpolar, 2
Flavor?: 2
Connected to Ancestor?: No... strangely, they're found in Raq but not Badger.. They're doing a coconut
Contiguous?: yes
Wildcard?:

Size:
Same as Ancestor?: n
Within range?: y
Exception?:

Support:
Same as Ancestor?: y
Does it Fit Lifestyle?: y
Does It Fit Size?: y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:
Other?:

Diet:
Same as Ancestor?: y
Transition Rule?:
Reasonable changes (if any)?:

Respiration:
Same as Ancestor?: n
Does It Fit Habitat?: y
Does it Fit Size?: y
Reasonable changes (if any)?:y, elaborated
Other?:

Thermoregulation:
Same as Ancestor?: n
Does It Fit Habitat?: y
Reasonable changes (if any)?: y, elaborated
Other?:

Reproduction:
Same as Ancestor?: y
Does It Fit Habitat?: y
Reasonable changes (if any:
Other?:

Description:
Length?: short
Capitalized correctly?: seems so
Replace/Split from ancestor?: split
Other?:

i think two things that ought to be added are:

Means of surviving out of water, for example waxy coating on its leaves to prevent dessication

and

Means to perpetuate from year to year despite winter, example, their upper portions dying back and their root clump going into a dormancy period.



Opinion: Pending ancestor placement should be solved, and my two suggestions for clarifying survival.

Approved for coconut

This post has been edited by colddigger: Jun 1 2023, 06:57 AM

Added the waxy leaves.
It already has the dormant root thing you suggested.

It also reworded the start to better explain its ancestor.

Oh weird I wonder how I missed that last bit about dormancy.

Added a bit to the habitat to bring it closer to the ancestor.

The seed bubbles float, allowing it to spread far and wide.