Smallstem Floating Bayshroom

Smallstem Floating Bayshroom
Creator	D̜͙̟͉ìn̨̹o̬̗C̼̮̣͡óaͅt͜
Information
Status	Extant
Common Name(s)	Smallstem Floating Bayshroom
Zones	10
Roles	Producer
Classification
Genus	Bulbus
Species	Bulbus minutruncus
Evolution
Date	July 18th, 2019
Ancestor	Floating Bayshroom
Descendants	Floating Seashroom

Bulbus semifloatus began occupying the floating vegetation niche in the vast bays of Zone 10. Its descendant, Bulbus minutruncus, has taken this even further. Bulbus minutruncus, the Smallstem Floating Bayshroom, has reduced the amount of its roots as they were no longer required for stabilizing the polyph on sediment, but they are still used to keep the polyph from knocking down in the currents. Both pairs of its tendrils have wrapped themselves to bend underneath the bulb to prevent being snagged onto objects and to shield the seeds from external threats such as muscals that could potentially tear the tendrils off, which would reduce reproductive success in some polyphs.

The stem of Bulbus minutruncus is the most notable change, however. It is much smaller than that of Bulbus semifloatus. The stem is now seven centimeters (7 cm) in height but the bulb is still relatively large at twenty-five centimeters (25 cm) in diameter, and the bulb is now over three (3) times longer than its stem.

Bulbus minutruncus now only takes two-and-a-half (2.5) weeks to grow thanks to its smaller size. It will start producing seeds on its tendrils once it reaches full size, and those seeds gradually loosen over time and sink to the ocean floor. Viable seeds will grow into new polyphs, which have less density than the shell and will be brought up by the currents, and they will float at the water surface with the stem and roots underneath the water, directly photosynthesizing sunlight with their bulbs.