Dionae Biology

Physiology
Dionae come in a myriad of forms, all different in terms of their sizes. Nymphs are highly adaptable and are capable of living in various environments deemed uninhabitable for other species. Their worm-like appearance that many are familiar with is shaped by many tough tendrils, beneath the large, singular eye, near which two long, thinner tendrils act as delicate sensory organs. These tendrils tightly wrap themselves around the body to cocoon it in a thick, protective layer, using six thick, shorter tendrils for locomotion. The most common sighted form of Dionae is a Cyclops, which is a four-limbed bipedal created by the fusion of several nymphs. Merging consists of wrapping or forming a symbiotic relationship with other Nymphs, and as the tendrils constrict they harden to almost stone - which further allows them to support the rest of the gestalt.

Nymphs that form the bipedal body typically use the standard construct of two arms, two legs, and a central abdomen from which these sprout from. They are all connected to the top Nymph, who is usually the most vocal but also more commonly the one with the most experiences. Whilst merged, each Nymph surprisingly manages to keep their sense of self and individuality as they share their thoughts and communicate with one another as separate entities while acting as one.

Dionae have also been known to form organs to assist in adapting to new environments. Typically they form Neural Stratas, Gas Bladders, Polyp Segments, and Anchoring Ligaments. Neural Stratas are considered the ‘arteries’ of a Dionae - linking each Nymph to one another directly. It is said the Neural Strata is one of the first organs formed and is considered the flow of information between each nymph, and severing it unexpectedly can force Dionae to go catatonic.

Gas Bladders are small pouches of growth, similar to a human lung, that allows gaseous exchange to occur - mostly being in that it turns only large amounts of various gases to use for biomass growth. Polyp Segments are one of the last organs to form - mostly along with the Dionae’s Gas Bladder - but also the most likely to get infected. When infected, the Polyp Segments secrete large amounts of mucous which then is dispelled by the top nymph, which then goes on to infect more. Polyp infections are considered extremely dangerous to Dionae, and entire gestalts can perish as it spreads throughout them. Anchoring Ligaments are some of the last organs to form and generally are formed on the ‘legs’ of a Dionae, which in turn assist in balancing. The ligaments can get inflamed, which is normally treated with various periods of rest. The condition is only noted in gestalts over a century old.

Self Preservation
Dionae feel pain uniquely. When damage is inflicted upon a certain part of a gestalt, it would be incredibly painful for the nymphs affected and so they cry out in pain, however, it would be an intense throbbing to the other members of the gestalt. Discomfort would originate from the injured section across to the entirety of the gestalt. Dionae also have a sense of fear, however, mostly related to that of losing experiences due to splitting. Splitting is the act of a gestalt fracturing due to continuously sustained damage and is to be avoided. They would inherently fear environments deemed dangerous, as the risk of losing experiences is akin to that of death. Although physiologically plant-based, Dionae behavior is more animal than plant. Radiation, specifically in the form of light, is extremely vital to Dionae, and without it will begin to wither. Dionae have three innate behaviors throughout their lifespan, no matter what samples are collected. Dionae see light as their main priority, and environments without such are deemed hazardous and are to be avoided at all costs, at risk of losing memories and knowledge.

Nymph Splitting
A Dionae Gestalt can split a nymph from itself and move semi-independently. This process is done by the two “singing” to each other on a frequency only they can understand. Since individual nymphs hold individual experiences, removing a nymph from a gestalt’s low-frequency range will cause minor amnesia while they're apart. The low-frequency singing has a relatively long-range, allowing two-way information transfer during this time. The nymph may consider itself still part of the gestalt, or an individual. But it is still intrinsically linked to the primary gestalt as long as the low-frequency signal continues.

To best explain the idea, the Dionae philosophers in The Overgrowth of Xrim cluster describe the feeling as ... "Thoughts are liquid, winding as a river does. When the river splits, they are different beings with different experiences. When they return to each other, they share both experiences of both paths."

Biomass Limbs
When a nymph splits off from their gestalt, the gestalt may grow some biomass to replace the limb the nymph acted as. These biomass limbs tend to be a strain on the gestalt if used long-term as they can lead to metabolic acceleration and over-consumption of biomass, hence why they’re rarely used outside of a temporary measure.

Metabolism
Dionae are capable of taking just about any matter from their surroundings and able to metabolize it into nutrition for themselves, being opportunistic feeders. Soil, fluids, biological matter, even particles from the air- biomatter being the most beneficial in the form of matter-to-energy conversion. If something is consumed and cannot be digested, the material is ejected through the process of regurgitation as the species appear to only have one orifice, their rather effective digestive system not producing waste, unlike most other organics. However, their main source of energy comes from the electromagnetic spectrum in the form of radiation, the most common being ultraviolet. While they can go without nutritious matter, being in the presence of radiation- ultraviolet being the minimum tolerated- is a necessity at all times. Without it, Dionae are soon to wither, enter a comatose state, and shortly die within the span of a few hours. A powerful source of radiation is highly beneficial to the species, and when provided biomatter can heal themselves at an accelerated rate; reproduction and growth is also done in exponentially short periods in such perfect conditions.

This comes at a great cost -- Their metabolism, while an incredible feat of Biology, is coupled with the Nymph undergoing a process which forces them to be almost sedentary. Their speed and activity decreasing as they age - with many becoming completely unable to move after a few centuries due to increasing weight, formation of thorns and hardening of joints after which they are often forced to root into a greater gestalt at this point, or risk slowing the younger Nymphs that they merge with to a halt and in the worst cases being left to die in relative isolation.

Means of neutralizing energy found on the electromagnetic spectrum would be disorienting to Dionae, but because they have evolved with radiation as their primary form of sustenance and must be exposed to the energy source at all times, substances that neutralize it, in particular, are toxic to the species.

Bark Treatments
As a way to stave off an impending-loss of mobility, Dionae tend to look for treatments to help reduce their bark growth as a way to extend their mobility.

The most commonplace and cheap method of bark removal is simply having excess bark cutoff. Removing newer, more recent bark is generally nonpainful, however removing bark that’s been grown in for a while tends to be very painful for the Diona involved, and thus usually avoided. Bark that’s been grown in for an extensive amount of time is almost impossible to remove without causing damage to the Diona. The treatment itself is generally cheap, however not overly effective as bark growth tends to accelerate as Dionae age, marking the treatment as only useful to younger Hebe.

A less common albeit more effective treatment is a special chemical injection designed to slow bark growth rather than remove it. The treatment is not painful, although it can leave the Dionae requiring more light or radiation as they burn through energy quicker, especially after recently being given the treatment. The treatment tends to be a bit more expensive than the former, however generally still affordable to most medium-class Dionae.

Reproduction
Dionae follow an asexual reproduction cycle, similarly observed in plants. Gestalts will release a plume of seeds approximately once every ten years, typically after having travelled to their place of origin (similarly to Salmon). The reasoning for such is to best ensure that experiences occur, as many cite their best experiences come from their origin point, however, If it is either impossible to return to such a point, or it is simply wished to spread their seeds elsewhere, many Dionae will attempt to find environments that are optimal for pod growth.

Xenobotanists have noted that the spores released from Dionae are configured to be capable of spreading via solar winds - and many study the journey of it, allowing for solar wind trails to be noted and investigated. This has also led to various clusters to form far from civilised corners of the known universe. It is also believed that the spores are capable of surviving atmospheric entry thanks to a hardened form of concentrated biomass covering the seed, which becomes fertilizer within the soil after germination occurs.

When the seeds reach a location (preferably optimal) they sink themselves within the ground, many have noted once they have rooted themselves it becomes increasingly more hard to remove them. The Dionae seed then begins to germinate and develops into a Diona Replicant Pod - which is, in essence, a Diona egg. The pod then absorbs much of the nutrients surrounding itself, but also feeds on the biomass coating that had once upon a time protected it.

In optimal condition, a pod can grow relatively quickly - however, should required nutrients not be available the pod enters a state of hibernation until such nutrients are provided. It can sometimes take centuries for a pod to fully develop. Pods grown without sufficient biomass tend to find the nymphs produced to wither soon after being disgorged.

Colouring Schemes
Whilst Diona bark is always brown, Diona are capable of being grown with differing shades and hues of bark. This is primarily affected by their age and the conditions in their growth site such as temperature and the type of radiation they were exposed to.

The following is a rough idea of what conditions would affect their bark’s shade:
 * Default: Generally grown in a pressurized space station or temperate planet, and being exposed to a mixture of stronger and weaker radiation types.
 * Lighter: Generally grown on warm planets, and being primarily exposed to weaker forms of radiation such as light.
 * Darker: Generally grown in space or colder planets, and being exposed to stronger forms of radiation such as cosmic rays.
 * Green: Younger Diona will generally have a greenish hue to their bark, although this will fade with time.

Senses
Unlike many other species of the spur, Dionae lack the ability to taste things. Instead, they look more for interesting textures, consistencies, and appearances to find enjoyment from food.

Diona are, however, capable of gaining memories of something’s taste through blood. Generally, this will be the donor’s favorite foods or things they ate recently before losing the blood. This has led to the creation of a somewhat niche market where Dionae look to purchase the blood of someone to gain an understanding of a particular food’s taste.

Dionae are also incapable of smell but can gain memories of how it is for other species through blood much like taste.