Dawnblossom Tree

Dawnblossom trees have tall, straight trunks with reddish-brown rough bark. they can grow to heights rivaling the tallest sequoias, and are thought to be related to redwoods. however there leaves are wide, flat, and bright emerald green, and they are neither evergreen nor coniferous. the branches of Dawnblossom trees are upturned and branch out in wide, fan-like protrusions from the trunk, longer at the bottom and shorter at the top, creating a cone-shaped sillouette. the Dawnblossom tree produces bright red and yellow flowers in clusters which grow, blossom, bear fruit, wither, and drop their fruit all within a single day. the fruit of the Dawnblossom tree are tiny red beads of sweet, juicy fruit, one per flower, each with 10 miniscule seeds in the middle of the flesh.

the Dawnblossom is a rare species of plant, and it's reproduction cycle is very difficult to complete. a seed takes at least a full year to germinate, and once it grows into a sapling it must survive for a few more years before it is mature enough to grow flowers. luckily, the Dawnblossom buds even as a sapling. however, at this stage it's primary defensive behaviour begins; the Dawnblossom sheds all it's leaves and flowers every evening at sunset, and grows new ones rapidly at sunrise. it goes into a dormant phase at night. if during the day any of the flowers are polinated and grow fruit, the chances of reproduction are greatly increased. whether by falling off the branch or by being eaten by a bird or other animal, the fruit may seed and eventually germinate, allowing a new tree to grow. however, if the seed grows too close to another mature Dawnblossom tree, it may be starved out as it is outcompeted for moisture and nutrients. for this reason, it is better to be eaten (either off the branch or from the ground) and the seeds deposited farther away. this has the added benefit of an ample initial supply of nutrients.

Dawnblossom tree seed stake a year or more to germinate, and after that grow rapidly into saplings. after a few years the Dawnblossom tree enters it's mature stage, though still a sapling. it begins to flower and leaf every morning at sunrise, and shed leaves and flowers both every evening at sunset and enter a dormant phase. the tree will never stop growing as long as it is alive, except when it runs out of room or light, or when the carbon content is too low.

Dawnblossom trees require lots of direct sunlight, and if they are removed from a source of direct light they will quickly enter their dormant phase, shedding leaves and flowers. they conserve water and nutrients while dormant, and can survive a long time in this way, though not forever. as the light returns, a Dawnblossom tree rapidly grows new leaves and flowers. if any flowers are polinated during the day, they will bear fruit within a few hours. Dawnblossoms only grow in warm or temperate, humid environments, with lots of direct sunlight. they can be found all over Gildelor from central Rise to Lassim and south to Southland and the western surface portions of Lularodam.

Dawnblossom trees require lots of direct sunlight and water, but can survive on minimum light and nutrients for a long, albeit not unlimited, time do to their dormancy ability.