[Marine] Nesomima cyanea

Nesomima cyanea is a blue-green colored swimming plant with 1.5 m / 5 ft diameter. Above the water surface 6 large, heart-shaped leaves surround the stem at it’s base. The spaces in between the larger cancellated veins are filled with CO2 and O2, enabling the plant to float and stay stable even in rough weather. At the base of each leave sit the fascicle anthers carrying golden-colored pollen. This golden ring surrounds the seed baring cone, with the same brown base color as the stem, but additional purple tips at the tip of the seed covers.

The submerged parts include tube-shaped traps in 3 rows, which become wider with increasing length. Only the outwards tip of the traps contains the blue-green color, while inside and remaining outside has a brown base color. Purple spots cover the entire outside, while the inside of the traps has extensive purple areas and large spots, replacing most of the brown base.

The lowest part consists of a taproot to store metabolized sugars. The actual root is usually not visible, since it is covered by a porous outer layer of excreted salt and organic residuals. This additional weight prevents the plant to flip over.

Since N. cyanea cannot rely to obtain nutrients like other plants from the soil, it evolved a sponge-like filter function. The free movement by wind and waves cause water to transport free matter, ions and smaller life forms into the tube-shaped traps. The caught matter is subsequently digested and absorbed through the surface for nutrient supply. Interestingly, the plant is able to degrade synthetic materials as well, rendering them candidates for biological water cleaners in other ecosystems.

The cyan color originated from the unique core molecule, the plant utilize for photosynthesis. Instead of chlorophyll, N. cyanea utilizes a copper-ion containing cyanophyll.

To maintain the core temperature during the night, the swimming leaves will fold over the cone. The submerged traps fall downwards and fold over the root, interrupting the influx of water and nutrients.

During the expedition, accompanying Xeros started to climb and sit on the plants. Apparently N. cyanea is big and strong enough to carry one average adult Xero.