The sunstalk is home to many creatures in the Sarcannian forest. At the base of the sunstalk is the spore mound out of which two long, thin stalks grow. These stalks make up the bulk of the autotroph, while large fan shaped structures extend out from the stalks providing a large area for photosynthesis. Bright pink pods appear along the stalk of the organism that open to reveal a blue interior giving them their characteristic name - azure pods.
The sunstalks cover large swathes of Sarcannian forest. The fan-shaped structures provide a multi-layered canopy for organisms to live in. The azure pods are home to the stalkleaper, a small creature that uses the sunstalk for shelter and sustenance.
The sunstalk obtains nutrients in a variety of ways. The base of the sunstalks absorb water and minerals from the decaying organic matter in the soil of the forest. The large fan-like structures are photosynthetic and provide the building blocks of the structure of the sunstalks. Lastly, as the azure pods can open and close, air forces particulate matter toward the back of the pod where it is slowly absorbed into the walls of the azure pod.
Sunstalks breed by releasing spores. As the spores are released into the air, they float along wind currents and end up along the fuzzy/textured ground of the Sarcannus forest. The stalkleapers help disperse these spores as they can be attached to their furry outer coating as they travel around the forest. The spore will slowly grow into a hardened mound. Once mature, the mound will shoot out many stalks, two of which will dominate and form the final structure of the adult sunstalk.
The pink color on the outside of the azure pods comes from a chemical called a carotenoid that the sunstalks absorb from the environment.