Land Plants of Rona
The term "Land plants" also includes plants that have secondarily adapted to life in water.
Ronan plants are divided into four groups depending on the light harvesting
pigments they utilize.
These light harvesting pigments come from the photosynthetic organisms with
which the ancestral plant cells formed symbiotic relationships with.
The diversity of light harvesting pigments allows the four major groups of
plants to live in the same region with less competition for identical light
wavelengths.
Rhlotsi:Red pigmented
Red pigmented plants which absorb in the green to blue end of the visible spectrum. These can compete well with the green pigmented Srelotsi.
Some members of this group have accessory pigments that may them appear browish to brown green in color.
Although sometimes considered more primitive than the Valotsi, the Rhlotsi have excellent adaptations to cold dry conditions.
Their sperm cells evolved a tough protective coating instead of gel and thus can be blown by the wind.
They land on or near cups that contain ovules and germinate in the moisture produced by the ovules. Leaves are typically small and needle-like.
Examples:
Tangle Shrub
Valotsi:Purple pigmented
These are closely related to the Rhlotsi. Their pigments absorb mostly in the green and yellow region of the spectrum.
Reproduction is through sperm cells secreted into a gelatinous medium. "Flowers" secrete nectar which doubles as a medium for sperm to swim in to eggs held near the back of the "flowers".
Eggs are typically surrounded by integumentary material that may become dry and hard or fleshy. Bracts nearby may also grow over the seed for form a "fruit" instead.
This group of plants is most common in temperate regions with ample moisture, generally they are the most diverse and common plant group on Rona.
Examples:
Swarmlet
Ethalo tree
King Tree
Srelotsi:Green pigmented
These are green pigmented plants which absorb mostly in the red end of the spectrum, though to a lesser extent the blue end.
Srelotsi produce flowers and fruit much like plants on earth.
Ghalotsi:Dark/brown pigmented
These plants have a combination of both pigment types above.
They are the most efficient in capturing light but they are also the easiest to overload and "sunburn". These plants are usually restricted to lower light intensity locations and regions.
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