Cradle Shootroot

-| Property | Details |+| Feature | Details | | :--- | :--- | | **Type** | Anchored | | **Category** | Starfish | | **Species** | *shootroot cunabulum* | | **Attitude** | Passive | | **Biome** | Shallows |+| **Plantable** | Yes |   ![Cradle Shootroot](Cradle_Shootroot.png)   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.   ## Recipe+The Cradle Shootroot can be crafted using the Habitat Builder.  -The Cradle Shootroot can be placed using the Habitat Builder.+| Ingredient | Count |+| :--- | :--- |+| Lucifer Rotsac | 1 |  -| Machine | Ingredients | Result |-| :--- | :--- | :--- |-| Habitat Builder | 1x Lucifer Rotsac | Cradle Shootroot |+**Result:** Cradle Shootroot   ## 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.   ## Gallery-  ![A Cradle Shootroot with Lucifer Rotsac inside.](Cradle_Shootroot_1.png) *A Cradle Shootroot with Lucifer Rotsac inside.*   ![A comparison of Cradle Shootroot with and without a symbiote.](Cradle_Shootroot_2.png) *A comparison of Cradle Shootroot with and without a symbiote.*   ![An empty Cradle Shootroot.](Cradle_Shootroot_3.png) *An empty Cradle Shootroot.*