Visceral Thermos
Zone M
Height: 15 - 20 cm
This polyphyta species consists of a simple looking structure that consists of 4 rigid stems that arch around a meet at the top. These stems all have one large leaf growing at the base. However in these species leaves are a bit thicker looking and have delicately serrated edges that feels fuzzy like fur when touched. Between the stems, a thick, transparent membrane exists. The purpose of this membrane is to hold water within it. The water is sourced from deep underground, and the polyph uses its large thick roots to absorb as much water as possible. Xylem in these roots transport the mineral-rich water up into the interior of the membrane. However this species deviates from it's ancestor S.aquarius by having a red layer of tissue lining it's inner membrane. It looks like the whole water is called red but it's not - it's merely in a thin-layered red bag. This tissue from it's green-tinted outside looks more cherry-colored. Since it looks dark from the outside, it helps heat from the sunlight being accumulated due to sunlight being absorbed and less reflected or let through.
Much like in S.aquarius the supplied water serves a number of purposes for the polyph. The water, coming from deep underground, contains many of the rich minerals that help boost the growth of the polyph. The water from inside is supplied to the leaves via large veins that link directly to the polyph’s tank. However the main purpose of this water is to retain heat for the polyph. While zone M nearly never drops below freezing, it can still get quite cold. However, as water is great at retaining heat, all of the heat absorbed from the sun during the day radiates back out at night, keeping the polyph warm. This extra warmth helps the polyph grow more steadily, with the cells not needing to slow down in cold conditions.
Unlike S.aquarius, S.viscerathermus have adapted a different way of reproducing - it risks bursting open in order to distribute it's seeds further. When it has burst open, the fallen pulp looks like a chunk of flesh and there are some strands of the torn membranes around it, mimicking the fat around the meat. The seeds have an iron cross esque shape, and they grow beneath the parent polyph’s leaves. The seeds are a bit more numerous than in S.aquarius, nearing number 40 in amount, but they are also are much smaller. This is due to the fact that S.viscerathermus is perennial and thus almost always (barring years when it happens to be left alone) has to regrow, and as such has to double it's efforts to survive hence the amount of seeds growing made their size become smaller due to the necessary nutrient distribution among them as well to diminish their chances of getting spotted by herbivores. Seeds are also connected to the stems of their corresponding leaves and in that way both leaves and the seeds are connected to the turgor mechanism, responsible for making the polyp burst after it's ripe. The turgor mechanism in S.viscerathermus is similar to turgor in Earth's plants which opens flower blooms and makes mimosa plant leaves fold together relying on water being moved through different plant's inner structures and also ionic chemical element gradient carried with the water.
S.vicerathermus relies on rain less, because upon getting ripe it entices base consumers with it's smell and brighter coloration. The These consumers are Capilliarmus antarctipoda (or Antarctic Roomba) and Moraldubious patrawermis (or Sexipede) When the herbivores approach, they try tugging at the seeds, which are now visible since due to polyp's ripe state all of it's leaves stand erect. This activates the biological turgor mechanism to which seeds and leaves were connected and which also activates the bursting of the polyp. Upon bursting, S.viscerathermus red pulp mixes with it's ground leaves and the seeds underneath them. The erect leaves ensure the mixing between the seeds and the pulp. The serated leaf edges help pulp to get underneath the leaves easier. Upon eating the pulp, herbivore gets the seeds stuck to it, since the pulp increases the level of stickyness. The seeds have become red and scentless, to increase the odds of them not being noticed among the pulp. The pulp itself, laiden with sugars, causes the attracted herbivore to consume it at higher speed and more recklessly, increasing the probability of the seeds ending up stuck to the consumer itself. After the herbivores leave, the parent S.vicerathermus upper ground part wilts away due to the weather, but the part near it's roots survives to a more warmer season upon which stems grow out of the ground once more to connect and form a new polyp to be pumped with water once more.
The upper mentioned approach works less with M.patrawermis as they are small and may be specifically drawn to locating seeds and these one, but they do show a greater attraction to eating the red pulp which may cause them to leave some seeds alone. The red pulp, being a photosyntheis product, is handy for withstanding the coldest season in the zone and as such is preferable to both C.antarctipoda and M.patrawermis. Since seeds can end up eaten by both consumers, especially M.patrawermis, the pulp ends up speeding up the digestion process while also making it end more quickly. As a result by the time remaining digestive enzymes reach the seed, they mostly just remove it's outer shell which actually causes it to be more prone to growing faster once it's excreted. In case of not getting a herbivore to hitch a ride on, any seeds remaining in the pulp's leftovers are eventually washed away by the occasional rain or even blown by the wind since the dried pulp fragments around the seeds becomes more similar to plastic bag in structure.
The seeds stuck to the herbivore or tossed aside when herbivore tries getting rid of the stickyness, eventually become dry enough to fall. After the seeds eventually sink in the moist ground, the young polpyhs start with one stem growing from each arm of the seed, with all 4 joining up as soon as they break the surface. The membrane forms shortly after, and as the root grows deeper the tank fills with water.
Much like S.aquarius, S.viscerathermus grow at 10cm height per year. It's harvest period (ripening) starts in the late autumn. The cells get nutrients mostly from the water, but ending up in a fertilized patch will accelerate their growth. Since the reproduction cycle of S.viscerathermus involves partial self-destruction and since it has to regrow after the coldest season, it has accumulated some photosynthetic tissue on it's polyp membrane and not just inside the bottom leaves. The red lining of S.viscerathermus doesn't get in the way of photosynthetic tissue since they are on the outside.
On an ending note, it seems that purpose of S.viscerathermus evolution was it's growing places being more closer to the local base consumer habitats as it's pulp release mechanism upon ripening relies on said consumers eventually locating it. The resemblence to meat, is possibly a coincidence, but then again red color is more easier to notice from afar. Even for colorblind organisms it's more strikingly colored than drabber colors. If there's ever a predator, either evolving or ending up in this zone it may increase the plant's distribution since it resembles a slaughtered animal.
