Content:Kkui Plant

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Contents 1 Information 2 Evolutionary Path & Life Cycle 3 Scientific Classification 4 Statistics

[edit] Information

The Kkui Plant is a species of cycato that roam the dangerous, ancient, tropical lava tubes of Vuunega. They are mobile, and are actually quite swift and agile. Their roots are adapted into leg-like extensions, while their poisonous thorn-covered leaves are at their anterior end. Eventually, their posteriors bloom into a sweet-smelling flower-like cluster of leaves, as well; these are often just called "flower-leaves" or simply "flowers", despite not being true flowers, although their scientific name is in fact fleaf or fleaves. They are carnivorous, and are vicious hunters.

[edit] Evolutionary Path & Life Cycle

The Kkui Plant has become heavily adapted to growing and surviving in the dark lava tubes. Long ago, seeds of the Kkui's ancestors fell into old lava tubes, and from here, they slowly evolved into an entirely new specimen.

There is little light in these subterranean tunnels, and the Kkuis begin life as seedlings near an entrance into the lava-carved cave. They quickly germinate, and grow into small sprouts. These sprouts already have the leg-like mobile roots required to get them further into the cave, where they are safe from various predators who would see them in the light. They then scurry deeper into the dark caverns.

Their ultimate destination is down at an underground river, lake, or pool, deep in these caverns, where no light exists. With no light, the Kkui is required to get its nutrients in some other way -- and they choose to get it through catching live prey. Using their thorn-covered leaves, they can quickly snatch prey, piercing its skin with their thorns, which contain powerful toxins to kill their prey instantly. Two of their main prey animals are the Vateg and the Omfrafa.

The Kkui choose these areas near the underground water sources not only for easiness of finding food (as they are blind, and have to use hair-like extensions off of their main stalk-body to sense vibrations), but they also stand within the calmer pools in order to absorb water to keep alive.

Once they reach full maturity, they begin the trek back to the first entrance into the caverns that they can find. Like many other floral species, they can feel the rays of the light on their leaves, and once they sense this, they begin to crawl up to the rim. Depending on the deepness of the cavern, this can take several hours. However, once they reach the rim, they will root themselves permanently to the area, and then curl themselves into a U-shape, and let both their leaves and flower extend towards the sky. From here, local pollinators can pollinate the florauna. The florauna are hermaphroditic, possessing both sex organs; however, they are incapable of pollinating themselves, and this is the job of the pollinators.

Once pollinated, the flower withers and dies, using its energy instead to generate a number of seeds, which when grown enough, become two heavy for their stalks and snap off, falling back into the caverns to start anew. The adults' will remain on the rim for up to 7 years, before finally withering and dying.

[edit] Scientific Classification

Domain: Triocentralis (Triple-Nucleus Complex Organisms)
Unranked: Diplastida ( Plastids surrounded by two membranes)
Kingdom: Floraunae (Florauna -- Vuunega's non-metallic floral life)
Subkingdom: Vuuphyta (Vuuphytes -- Terrestrial Florauna)
Infrakingdom: Velocifloraunae "Speedy Florauna" (Quick-reacting Florauna)
Superdivision: Fleaphyta (Fleaf-Utilizing Vuuphytes)
Division: Belluryota "Beautiful Nut" (Belluryotes -- Seeds produced from fleaves)
Class: Cycatoceae (Cycatoes -- Roots extend all along floraunal length)
Order: Zamimimus (Zamimimids -- Fern & Palm-like Cycatoes)
Family: Polypodadromeus "Many Footed Runner" (Mobile Cycatoes)
Subfamily: Carnovenator "Flesh Hunter" (Carnivorous Cycatoes)
Genus: Kkuidae (Kkui Plants & their closest relatives)
Species: Acerbatyrannus "Gloom Tyrant" (Kkui Plant)
Binominal Name: Kkuidae acerbatyrannus

[edit] Statistics

Species Type: No-blooded Subterranean Florauna
Lifestyle: Solitary Predator
Hunt/Forage Success Rate (Young): 99.99% Hunt (70% success rate), 0.01% Photosynthesis (1% success rate due to darkness)
Hunt/Forage Success Rate (Adult): 100% Photosynthesis (99.7% success rate during day, 5% success rate during night)
Armor: Kkui possess no natural armor, and are not sapient.
Defenses: Kkui possess few natural defenses, although their seeds have a natural toxin built up in them (which later coalesces into their thorn-teeth) in order to prevent most potential predators. As juveniles and adults, they have stalks which form their main body; these are covered in hardened, pointy splits, which are essentially dry, tough leaves. These can poke potential predators, to help deter them from eating the Kkui. Kkuis can but don't often use their toxins to attack foes -- it is believed this is not an often action due to many predators having built resistances to these toxins.
Weapons: A Kkui's only true weapon is their anterior leaf-thorns, used as makeshift teeth. These are full of powerful poisons that kill their prey quickly, to prevent damage to their weak body.
Tools: Kkui plants do not manipulate their surroundings anymore than positioning dead prey into a better spot for consumption.
Method of Eating: Leap at prey and close leaf-mouth over it to pierce it with the thorn-teeth, and inject its poisons to kill the prey. Then, excretes enzymes that will dissolve the prey quickly, while still allowing it to be digested by the florauna. All nutrients obtained from the prey is used, and cannot be excreted, although things that are not capable of digesting in this fashion are left for scavengers.
Reproductive Rate: Sexual maturity is reached after 7 years. Despite being hermaphroditic, they can only breed through the use of outside pollinators.
Gestation: 2-3 weeks then drops seeds -- seeds begin to be developed within a few days of pollination, during which time the flower-leaves wilt and drop off first. These seeds grow quickly, using up most of the nutrition gained by the Kkui during this time, until they are so heavy, they snap the thin wisp-vines they are attached to.
Offspring Incubation: 2-3 weeks until seeds drop off after initial pollination.
Number of Offspring: 20 seeds per cluster
Offspring Survival Rate (before age of maturity): 10% -- Many seeds and juvenile Kkuis are eaten by predators that exist in the darkness, and this is not helped by their independent nature. Since their major predators have built up resistances to their toxins, they have little defense against these creatures.
Singular/Plural/Possessive: Kkui/Kkuis/Kkuit

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