Hookweed
Taxonomy
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Ancestors and Descendants
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Creator: Bufforpington
Ancestor: Tideweed
Habitat: Datura Chaparral
Size: 30 cm Tall
Diet: Photosynthesis
Reproduction: Asexual Spores
The hookweed spread further inland, splitting from its ancestor. It has adapted to the harsh, relatively dry climate of Datura Chaparral. It has kept its bristly leaves, as the thin, photosynthetic bristles greatly reduce water loss in a similar way to that of pine needles. Its stem has developed a tough, bark-like layer that helps keep water inside of the plant. It has shrunk down considerably in order to reduce the amount of nutrients it needs. Its roots have grown thicker, allowing it to break through the tough, rocky soil of the chaparral, which is the result of millions of years' worth of unhindered erosion. Its bulb stores both nutrients and water, allowing it to survive through the dry season. Unlike the countless neakweed descendants before it, its sporepods are much more resilient, and will fall of the plant when ripe. They will then roll across the ground, being pushed by the wind, releasing spores along the way. The dry husk then decomposes. Over time, the soil will become relatively nutritious once more, as the decaying sporepods gradually form a thin layer of somewhat nutritious topsoil, being held in place by mature hookweeds.