Starquake.pdf

of plant life is the parasol or petal-pod plant shown in Figure 3. It has a single taproot buried deep in the
crust. From the single root grow twelve strong, curving compression members or "trunks," tied together
with tension threads to a central post. Between each trunk and across the top of the plant is stretched a
membrane "skin." The top membrane, facing the cold sky, is highly emissive and dark. At the end of each
of the twelve trunks are the pollen shooters and collectors.
The cheela evolved from the parasol plant and still contain the genetic code for the plant form in their
genes. Under proper manipulation of their "hormone" balance, they become immobile, dissolve their
internal muscles, and re-form into a very large version of the parasol plant called a dragon plant.