Cradle Shootroot

+![Cradle Shootroot](Cradle Shootroot.png)+ +| Attribute | Details |+| :--- | :--- |+| **Type** | Sessile |+| **Category** | Starfish |+| **Species** | *shootroot cunabulum* |+| **Attitude** | Passive |+| **Biome** | Shallows |+ +The **Cradle Shootroot** is a small anchored lifeform that lives in a symbiotic relationship with the [[Lucifer Rotsac]] which dwells within the central cavity.+ +## Appearance+The Cradle Shootroot's main body is shaped like a hollow four-pointed star, increasing in width as it grows taller. The body is surrounded by flattened blue projections, radiating outward and bifurcating then ending in forked yellow tips.+ +## Databank Entry+> **Source:** Scan a Cradle Shootroot+ +A basket-shaped organism (tentatively *shootroot cunabulum*) with no clear Earthly analog. Anatomically similar to a plastic starfish, or to an opened variety of Earth's extinct blastoids.+ +### 1. Animal anatomy+The flattened, fibrous 'leaves' are the arms of an animal loaded with photosynthetic symbiotes. The central structure houses a digestive system and a hard, sticky cradle (the cunabulum). A second ring of arms grows into the seabed, seeking crevices in the rock.+ +### 2. Preferred symbiote+The cradle is an exchange site with a symbiotic partner (such as the lucifer rotsac). Spectrogenetic analysis suggests the cradle shootroot is younger than the rotsac. It may have originally parasitized free-floating lucifer rotsacs, before evolving a niche as an anchor: providing a refuge and minerals to the rotsac in exchange for a share of the rotsac's fermented food.+ +### 3. Plastic fibers+Although it lacks the true cell walls of Earth plants, the cradle shootroot strengthens its tissues with bioplastic fibers. Too tough to cut by hand, they could be severed by a cutting tool.+ +**Assessment:** tough fibers could be used to synthesize fabric, possibly food.