Stratophage

A range of algae-like plants, characterised by tough fibres coated with a sap which holds many individual organisms together in a colony or raft.

Some species form thin layers which can be hung from a line station, rafts miles across floating on stratospheric air currents. Here, the plants make the best possible use of solar energy, and can be harvested for use as a food source.

Some variants can also apparently grow in vacuum, alowing them to be cultured as an agricultural product on scattered worlds.