Bamboo trees

A bamboo tree

Other than desert, most of the planet’s dry surface is covered in grassland, because of the heavy winds. However, the still season provides an opportunity for taller tree-like organisms to grow, from the kingdom Erythroplasta. Since they only have a relatively short period of time to reach full height, these trees need to be very fast growers, helped by the high levels of ammonia and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Their stems resemble those of the bamboo plants of Earth due to their similar means of growth, and their leaves are thin and needle-like to minimise surface area and increase wind tolerance (although their leaves can be fairly long). Bamboo trees reproduce by growing seeds near the top which, once the windy season begins, are blown away and spread by wind dispersal. The trees die shortly afterwards, leaving behind a grassy treeless landscape, and new trees won’t emerge until the next still season.