Pyrasphales

 

A Stone In Heaven, VI.

On Ramnu, concentrated oxygen and regular lightning cause frequent fires, burning down forests. Vegetation has adapted with:

deep roots;

rapid reseeding;

fireproofed pyrasphales, similar to Terran grasses and Hermetian yerbs.

Animal species unable to digest fireproofing became extinct as pyrasphales crowded out other plants. Now, herbivores either excrete the fireproofing or break it down with symbiotic microbes.

Poul Anderson presents not only future histories but also fictional evolutions - also on Diomedes and Dido. I record these details here because, of course, I had forgotten them from previous rereadings.