Chain-Grass

With the continued diversification of various odd-looking Bouteloua forms, regular old turfgrasses are still major players in just about every floral community on Apterra. Despite appearances, these basal-looking plants are quite diverse, with unique varieties inhabiting biomes from hot deserts to tropical rain-pseudoforests, and everywhere in between. As we've seen, many other species of grass have diverged from the original buffalograss body plan. However, most of these mutants emerged within just a few thousand years Post-Abandonment. Groups like the palm-grasses, basket-grasses, and rat-grasses have been well-established in their ecological roles for dozens of millennia now. Even at this early stage in Apterra's history, it has become increasingly difficult for basal forms to branch out, finding most of the available niches already occupied. However, one late bloomer, whose ancestors until just two thousand years ago were nearly unchanged from introduced buffalograsses, has bucked this trend. 

The chain-grass, B. flabelloclinus, is a medium-sized plant native to the temperate regions of southern Abeli. Its blades are quite average in appearance, each measuring up to 20 centimeters in length. The plant grows slowly and steadily, and its lifespan often exceeds five years. Its relatively thick, sturdy stem allows it to reach heights in excess of a meter - not the tallest plant in its ecosystem, but one of only a few to have attained even this size. Its most noticeable feature, however, is the arrangement of its blades. Instead of following a distichous alternating pattern, they instead emerge in a single rank. In young individuals, this results in an asymmetrical fan-like shape, with older, longer leaves resting beneath newer ones growing from the apex. As the plant matures, the stem twists gradually while continuing to sprout new blades, creating a helical "chain" that ascends like a spiral staircase towards its inflorescence at the very top.

It goes to seed each spring, releasing thousands of tiny grains during rainstorms in hopes they'll be washed away to some new and fertile area. These are too small for rats to bother with, and this species is not numerous enough to be worth seeking out regardless. Their masses of seeds, however, are a welcome food source for the fry of Gambusia ophthalmalculatus, a mid-sized minnow which tends to reproduce at nearly the exact time as B. flabelloclinus. On rare occasion, one or two seeds might even pass through the young fish's digestive trace unscathed. 

The chain-grass will not be the last instance of a new innovation emerging late in the game from basal-looking ancestors. It will also not remain relegated to a minor role in this one backwater pseudoforest for much longer.