Bubblia (& Perloa)

Bubblia (& Perloa)

Directly adjoining the Storm Dimension from beneath, there appears to be a previously unknown area of air sea. The air is so thick here it acts similar to a low-density ocean.

The first species to be recorded in this new area is the Bubblia. It would appear that the plant's smaller bubbles move about the surface of its larger one.

In some specimens, these bubbles followed a strict ring pattern, gliding about the surface of the nucleus bubble as a whole with the angle of this movement changing at random intervals. Whether the bubbles move clockwise or counter-clockwise seems to be connected to the water-air currents, switching when there's a shift in the current.

In other, larger specimens, these satellite bubbles were observed to each have their own path, which like the previously documented specimens, only switched their clockwise/counter-clockwise direction when the air-water currents shifted.

The the first type of specimens have been dubbled Ringia Bubblias. These were observed to have smaller central bubbles than the larger specimens with freer satellites.

Whether Ringia Bubblias are their own separate species or merely a juvenile version of the larger specimen type is still a topic of much debate, as there has yet to be observed any juveniles behaving like the larger specimen type.

On the one hand, there has been no noticeable change in behavior pattern of the known Ringia Bubblia specimens since their initial discovery. This does not discredit the notion of a maturation event still being on the horizon for any one of them, nor does it negate the possibility that the larger specimens are genetically nonviable offshoots of the Ringia Bubblia species, as it has yet to be observed how these larger specimens reproduce.

On the other, there are many indicators that Ringia Bubblias are the descendants of the larger specimens and not the other way around. For one thing, the larger specimens show evidence of being much older than the Ringias. The large specimens often have a somewhat central position in their patch, and tend to only exist in the singular per patch. This would give credence to the idea that the Ringias are desendants.

However, it still does not explain the behavioral differences and the fact that no Ringia has been observed maturing into the larger specimen type.

One hypothesis states that the larger specimen type acts as a sort of a queen or ruler over the smaller Ringias. This would explain why there can only be one large specimen type per patch.

It is also hypothesized that each satellite bubble on the larger specimen type corresponds to the movement of a ring somewhere in the patch, but this has yet to be sufficiently backed up with evidence.

Other than these two primary specimens, there has been another feature observed in Bubblia patches, and that is the presence of one of a third type of specimen, the Perloa, in every patch.

Unlike the first two, Perloas do not appear to be too closely related to either specimen type. They grow an opaquer, solider sphere in lieu of bubble nucleus and appear to maintain petal-like bracts even after fruiting. No external flowers were observed in either of the two Bubblia specimen types, and the primary bubble in each one seemed to form almost in place of sepals just below the base of flowers. Bubblias are thought to be related to Aquabulla genus by various points of evidence, and it is currently hypothesized that Perloas may be a hybird of the Perloa Alnia and Yura Aquabulla based on its appearance. However, this is at best speculation, and it is not yet clear if there really is a direct connection between the two species, or if they merely bear a resemblance to both and have a more indirect connection to the Aquabullas, much less the Perloa Alnias.

The fruit of the Perloa is not thought to be edible, but from their shiny appearance, it is thought they could become a collector's item in the future. This difference in taste is sometimes brought up as an argument against their being closely related to the Perloa Alnia, despite them both sharing the word "Perloa" in their name.

Twis-tia Petalia

Twis-tia Petalias were a once wild flowers that have been cultivated to grow in all sorts of different colors. The flower produces a nectar that hardens when exposed to air, producing a hard-candy-like substance within its flowers. The Twis-tia Petalia's close relative, the Sweetea Bundalia, does something similar, but has been cultivated to produce a hardening chocolate-like nectar instead of the honey-like substance that Twis-tia Petalias produce. As efforts to increase the number of Twis-tia Petalia and Sweetea Bundalia in JI continue, their delicious fruits can be expected to spread around JI as well.

Amanomi Noyabu

In addition to the Air Sea, a type of rain forest was also discovered deep down in the Storm Dimension's cloud layer. The primary specimen we'll be observing is the Amanomi Noyabu, otherwise known as the Wild Rainberry Bush. The berries in question are only faintly sweet and dye the mouth dark blue when eaten, leading to it also being named the Inkberry Rainbush, or Suminomi Amayabu. Its ink-like qualities may mean Inkpetal Dyenas will soon have a rival on the market for ink and dyeing products.

Orbitania

The Orbitania is one of several specimens noted in last year's expedition to Hoshimi Island. From its dark stem color, a hypothesis has been put forth that it may originate from the Flyona line. Other evidence to support this idea is the faintly gummy, licorice-like taste of the stem, a trait which proper Flyona stems have in full. It would seem that other Hoshimi Island flora have a much stronger influence on it than any possible connections to the Flyona line, as its flowers share many of the characteristics of small, creeping vine flowers that were found growing near specimens such as the Spirra Starra, and its fruit bears resemblance to that of a Münlala Spikalif's. As far as the taste of the fruit goes, it was deemed unideal for eating. Like the Münlala's fruit, it proved to be hollow with a light fuzz over top. Light appears to emanate from this skin layer and not the inside, same as its relative's produce. Inside it is a small, dark flower. The fruit can be squeezed to produce water, but isn't particularly flavorful. The yellow petals, however, were noted to have a distinct sour note. The roots have a distinct spicy, radish-like taste when properly washed and prepared, though the upper root layer tends to be more like the stem.

Faeriepetal Glimmerina (& Faerin Glowamina) (& Faehanae Wingrass)

Halfway between Crescent Minoria and Furheart Iiah exists a small island where delicate, faerie-like plants bloom.

Faeriepetal Glimmerinas also exist on continental Crescent Minoria, but they are all but clear with the faintest amount of color. On Fe'ari Island, their appearances is much more like that of a Flyona, but lacking the Flyona family's classic taste in both stem and petal. Their taste remains like that of those on the Crescent Minoria mainland—like glass. However, when the entire plant is boiled down along with the roots, it is used to create a powerful tea, as the mainland variety especially absorbs lunar energy which can only be accessed in edible form by melting and reducing the plant down. Though previously untested, it may be possible that Fe'ari Island Glimmerinas store the potential energy to give the drinker of tea made from it faerie wings.

The Faerin Glowamina is a type of Varia Maria. Whether on the mainland or Fe'ari Island, it tends to grow near Faeriepetal Glimmerinas.

Faehanae Wingrass, like the other two, can sometimes be found on the Crescent Minoria mainland, usually near the coasts. Attempts were previously made to cultivate it on Wing Alayna, but it would seem it prefers its native regions more.

Heleh Lifurloa

If the Clera Fula signifies the start of the rainy season, the Heleh Lifurloa signifies the end. Its root system works tirelessly to help drain the land and stabilize the ground in the wake of the rainy season. In the dry months, however, it's nowhere to be seen. By what process it disappears has yet to be directly observed, but in particularly wet years when the Heleh Lifurloas are far and few in between, they are sometimes seen all year round, vanishing only when the ground around it is sufficiently drained.

It has long, string-like sticky pistils with which to collect wind-blown pollen as Heleh Lifurloas tend not to grow close together. It stores water in its stem, leaves, petals and tubers, which, aside from the petals, all share a glassy appearance. The leaves and tubers swell the more water they collect and shrink as the plant uses it up. The tubers can be shaped to create beautiful, decorative pieces. The leaves and stems are not so easily manipulated, but nevertheless make elegant, decorative pieces if caught before their mysterious disappearance.

The corolla is sometimes plucked to be used as a decorative container, similar to a Jara Flora. The nectar is used to sweeten tea themed around the flower during the Tea Festival. The leaves, stem and tubers can be melted and boiled down to create a slightly sweet syrup as well, but as the initial melted plant is full of water, it usually takes quite a while to boil it down to a syrup, and few parts of the plant are edible without processing. The pistils are trimmed and used to add a sweet, herbal note to tea themed around the plant.