So firstly, yes, I am bored. Secondly (and arguably more important), i do not claim to be a biologist or marine biologist. I’m running off of website and forum data. So if you’ve been to the simulant past, you’ve noticed the planet has beautiful plant life. However you may not have realised that it’s trees are in fact coral. Or at least a ‘coral-like colonial tree structure’. So I would like to propose a theory as to how this is possible [b]IN GAME[/b] (and not just, “Oh a pretty planet”). So what is coral? [quote]coral’s are marine invertebrates within the class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They have a calcium carbonate skeleton, and reproduce using polyps. Corals get their energy through photosynthesis as well as catching small fish and plankton using stinging cells in their tentacles. (This specifically applies to zooxanthellae coral types.[/quote] So in order for the Mercury coral to exist it would need to develop the ability to exist on land. Now in looking up the question “can coral grow on land?” I found a forum comment explaining as to how it’s possible, coupled with the traveler’s powers I may have found a scientific way to say it’s possible, using said explanation. [quote] If a photosynthetic form of land coral evolved, it could grow to large size using a built substrate consisting of the skeletal remains of previous individuals. You might get a coral-like colonial tree structure, raising the individual phytocoral higher that their rivals in a quest for sunlight. More like a land stromatolite[/quote] It also goes onto suggest: [quote] the phytocoral would need to obtain water and minerals from the soil. So the land phytocoral would need to have fluid transport systems similar to xylem and phloem in its structure; it may just be possible for colonial organisms to form specialised tissues capable of nutrient transport alone. Carbonic acid could form and eat away the coral- unless it was protected by a living outer skin.[/quote] The post also goes on to suggest that it may be out-competed by woody trees. So now we have a basis, what do we need to consider? Well we can actually answer these very simply: 1) is there sunlight? [spoiler]mercury is the planet closest to the sun. So there is sunlight galore. [/spoiler] 2) is there a water source? [spoiler]yes. Multiple in fact. IRL scientists have found that a source of water is located within the ice at the planets poles (which we can assume applies to the ingame universe). There’s also mountains on Mercury’s surface, created by terraforming, which would possibly have snow at the high altitudes, which melts into water. Both hydrogen and oxygen (which is in the chemical structure of water) is present in the planet’s atmosphere. Also if you climb the root minds spire, you can see a large water source (either a large lake or the sea). [/spoiler] 3) is there a way for the coral to evolve/develop quickly? [spoiler]the traveler can help it evolve and develop. We know it can create life. This can be seen by examining the bulb plant in the simulant past, which can only be found there, and in the Dark forest below the shard of the traveler. This proves the traveler has the ability to develop plantlife. [/spoiler] 4) is there a way to protect against Carbonic acid? [spoiler]yes. The acid would specifically attack the coral. However the coral on Mercury has a bark layer surrounding it. This could provide protection against the acid. [/spoiler] 5) is there any competition? [spoiler]no. The coral is the only “tree-like” organism/structure around. This suggests that there is no competition. [/spoiler] So here is my theory: - the Traveler arrived on Mercury. - it converts the hydrogen and oxygen, from the atmosphere, as well as from the poles ice, into a fluid/liquid water source. Regulating evaporation by introducing a hydrological cycle, providing precipitation. - it creates a polyp that spreads and forms a coral reef. - the traveler then begins to properly terraform the planet, creating soil and land, as well as an air based plankton or algae. - the coral slowly makes it’s way to the surface, and is evolved by the traveler to survive on land, creating energy through both photosynthesis and absorbing the air-born algae or plankton. - it slowly develops resistance against the carbonic acid by growing bark around its “skin”. - precipitation and Ground infiltration provide the required water for the coral to survive. I was planning on trying to explain the reason for the ”grass” feature atop the coral, but the required neutients for grass to grow, aren’t contained within coral. Anyway that’s my proposal. Again, I do not claim to be a biologist at all. So to any out there, feel free to critique (just please keep it civil. I’m a fragile creature). Also large thanks to user superskybro for the optimism and support whilst researching and writing this post.