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Spiny whips have no flowers, cones, or seeds, and instead reproduce solely by cloning of vegetative tissue. Buds of tissue develop inside the cup-like top and elongate to resemble large fingers. In contrast to the tiny gemma cups of liverworts, which eject their tissue buds when raindrops fall on them, these fingers of tissue are expelled violently from the cups when methane gas builds up in the stem and is suddenly released in a cloud above the plant.
Following the explosive dispersal of vegetative buds, new finger buds are produced that gradually refill the cup, and the plant is calm until the next cloud of methane accumulates. Although the methane burping action of the spiny whips produces a foul odor and usually sprays the area with water, the tissue fingers are collected and eaten by the Na’vi.
Following the explosive dispersal of vegetative buds, new finger buds are produced that gradually refill the cup, and the plant is calm until the next cloud of methane accumulates. Although the methane burping action of the spiny whips produces a foul odor and usually sprays the area with water, the tissue fingers are collected and eaten by the Na’vi.
