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 Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:37 pm
Plant name: Kelepa
Planet of origin: Beghar
Environment: Desert-type regions
Size: (spore sizing based) Small
Traits:
-one of the few plants without extreme phases that change its actual physiology
-stores whatever nutrients it produces in sunlit times in its taproot
-Takes in carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, which is toxic to many of the planet’s organisms-
-The main leaf has a nervous system and moves slightly to maximize its sun exposure
- When seasonal conditions are too harsh for it, the main leaf curls up tightly and the storeage leaves curl around it, forming a protective bud. When it detects that conditions are habitable, it unfurls
- during eclipses or dark times, the main leaf tends to shrink and it lives off of its taproot and whatever sunlight it can scrounge
- it is edible, though it can asphyxiate some small Begharan creatures during the height of its photosynthesis, due to its oxygen output.
-since the sandy plains drain quickly, water is somewhat complex for most animals to get when away from the rivers, thus the Kelepa act as sources of easy water in the deep desert
-They tend not to grow near the rivers, since too much water causes them to become bloated and thus unable to furl or move properly.
-their small, spherical red fruit grows between the main leaf and the storage leaves and is edible to humans.
-the fruit is sweet-tasting with a dry feeling. It has a small pit.
Description: The kelepa is a small plant. It is dark green with a smooth waxy skin. It appears to be covered in slightly lighter cracks, but this is just the fine veining of its skin. It appears to be a large, thick leaf with four smaller leaves at its base. The larger leaf can grow as big as a foot in length and the thicker more conical shaped supporting leaves can grow up to 3 inches in height. The large leaf has been observed to move slightly in response to sunlight.
Life cycle: During those seasons that are not harsh enough to cause 'budding' but are not habitable enough for full photosynthesis, the Kelepa might produce small fruits, depending on the nutrient store of its taproot. the fruits are located between the main leaf and the storage leaves, one per leaf. thus, each plant will produce three fruits.
The fruits are eaten and the pits deposited with whatever waste the creature expels. The seeds use the waste as starting nutrients, developing their taproot and sprouting the main leaf. they live off their nutrients until a favorably sunny time, usually more than 5 begharan days, when they will have enough stored nutrients to afford the growth of the storage leaves. They are considered mature at this point and may produce fruits.
The oldest specimens of Kelepa are about 7 begharan years old, but predation and conditions often cut their lifespan short.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 4:14 pm
The concept for your plant is pretty solid, except that it seems altogether too earthly. By that, I mean to say that you could realistically see a plant of the species on one of our own deserts, when you've developed a planet (moon, rather) of a different caliber that has so much potential to be different in surprising ways.
Why doesn't your plant go through a seasonal cycle? Is it because, being autotrophic, it has to maintain a slow metabolism because it can only "eat" during the short times of the year when sun is available? A detail like that would be crucial for rp purposes, should someone have this species chosen. Maybe an effect of eating the plant is that it causes sluggishness.
For that matter, what does it eat? Is it, in fact, autotrophic (meaning that it produces its food on its own by collecting energy through light or an alternative source), or does it eat other organisms?
Also, you mention that the Kelepa is capable of some movement. Is this simply in response to a stimulus (like a sandstorm), or do they have some sort of nerve system, making them able to respond on their own?
Do they have predators? What would be drawn to this plant, and why? What are its defense mechanisms to prevent harm from coming to the actual plant itself?
Just some food for thought. c: Like I said, the concept is pretty sound, but it could use some expanding.
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 11:57 am
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