Subplortatus desertensis
Subplortatus desertensis is the first species of Subplortatus to exist. This species lives in Zone E and grows in a structure that allows animals to live underneath it, should they require this. It starts off by growing a trunk-like structure with small leaves. It grows in this fashion until it’s a few feet tall, which is when it begins growing long stems that go to the end of previous leaves and grow new leaves there. Basically, when the tree is larger than 6 feet, it will grow a dome of leaves with multiple layers. As new layers are grown, old layers are shed and dropped beneath because they don’t absorb more sunlight and may make the soil richer. Each leaf is 5-6 inches long and the tree can grow up to 12 leaves out. When it rains water falls onto one leaf, making it droop just enough for a drop of water to go beneath the next leaf and fall onto the ground below the tree. When it becomes hot again, the dome is humid for weeks to come and no water is lost. Roots go at least two feet beyond where the leaves do. This tree dome is the perfect opportunity for new life to emerge in Zone E.