Torfenia flotsis
Torfenia flotsis is a tidal polyph species in the Lunasilex Islands. T. flotsis has limp stems that lack rigid structure to allow its leaves to float during high tide and rest on the substrate at low tide so the leaves are always receiving direct sunlight and to reduce structural strain from water movements. The leaves are thick and succulent as they store water for the polyps to prevent desiccation during low tide. Typical T. flotsis grow four 6-10 inch long elliptic leaves branching from a central stem. The roots spread out into a 12-16 inch radius and 3-5 inches down.
Clusters of small flowers grow on the stem beneath each leaf. Pollen is released at high tide so the water may carry it and pollinate other T. flotsis. After pollination each flower will form a seed. When the seeds are fully formed they will detach at high tide using the increased water to enlarge cells attaching them to the parent polyph. The seeds will be carried by the tide until they are deposited in the tidal substrate where they will begin to grow roots and stem. Initially the polyph grows rapidly to anchor itself and grow a stem at around 2 inches a week. The first leaf is formed usually when the polyph is around 3.5 feet tall, then growth slows to 0.5 inches a week as it continues to add leaves due to the depletion of seed nutrients. As it grows the roots are responsible for retaining water to prevent desiccation at low tide but once the leaves grow and the exposed surface area is increased they are insufficient forcing the leaves to store more water. Typically the polyphs will grow 6-15 feet depending on where they are in the intertidal zone.
