The Airship Docks of Deiphobus

The redcap forests are endemic to the continent of Deiphobus, where a relative abundance of certain minerals in the soil allows for an impressive accumulation of biomass. Combine this with the fact that fixed nitrogen is produced in large quantities by Ilion's black plants and black algae and the result is a dense jungle capped by a thick canopy of red plants. Canopy plants begin their lives as epiphytes until the detritus can no longer support them. At this point they send roots all the way to the forest floor. Competition is high and many species have adopted a parasitic lifestyle instead.

One redcap forest holds the distinction of harboring the largest floating fruit in the world. The so-called "airships" are spacious enough to fit three grown men inside and can support the weight of one. They remain moored to their parent plant until ready to disperse. A combination of mucus and spines prevents creatures large and small from climbing the tether and consuming the developing airship. Because these fruits are a costly investment, a single plant can only produce one every two or three Earth years. The remainder of their reproduction is vegetative. Needless to say, airship docks are K-strategists.

See the redcap understory: fav.me/d6opsa2