Polygene monosporia
20μm (spore)
Polygene monosporia is a primarily unicellular descendant of Polygene altumpellus. Nearly completely halting development of the stalk P. monosporia exist primarily as the spore stage of life. As a spore it actively decomposes detritus through enzyme secretion. The spore will reproduce by mitosis approximately every 2 minutes.
Only when there is significant amount of nutrients present and a low population density of P. monosporia will it progress to the next stage. Quorum sensing causes P. monosporia to reproduce by mitosis at high population density while at low densities they will grow roots and form a 1cm stalk.
The stalk of P. monosporia does not form spore pods like the ancestor, the structure that was the spore pod now acts as a spore production platform at the top of the stalk. The spore pod will grow already open and form dormant spores directly from it's tissue. The spores may pile up on the spore pod and be blown away by winds to disperse. Once the spores encounter detritus they will become active.
