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Arbor Masters (Earth-616) from Groot Vol 1 6 001

Arbor Masters

The Flora colossi are tree like beings from Planet X, the capital of the branch worlds. They were all created, alongside other species like the Whitecaps, by the Elder of the Universe known as the Gardener who seeded many worlds with life using the Time Stone. The Gardener intended for the Flora colossi to be the protectors of the five branch worlds while the Whitecaps would pollinate those worlds. However, when those worlds' canopies would inevitably die out, a Grootfall would rise to raze the worlds and reform the soil for new life to be formed.[2]

The Flora colossus were ruled over by the "Arbor Masters" who teach the children of the species with "Photonic Knowledge," which is the accumulated knowledge of the generations of the Arbor Masters, which is absorbed through photosynthesis; this is a highly advanced education, making the Flora Colossi geniuses. Planet X's biome is managed by the "Maintenance Mammals", a type of small squirrel-like beings.[3]

A Flora colossus was among the monsters inhabiting the Monster Isle when Magik and Shadowcat went there to rescue Bo.[4]

Alternate Reality Versions[]

2017s Marvel Animated Universe (Earth-17628)[]

The homeworld of the Flora colossus was invaded by Ronan the Accuser, wiping out most of the native species. Groot was the last of his kind once Ronan's army had erased the Flora colossus, however Groot was able to save the World Pod within himself, which he could use to recreate the Flora colossus race by planting it in the sacred pool. Groot used World Pod during the Guardians battle with Thanos, which rendered it useless.[5] According to Groot, his race was once saved by Adam Warlock, he did so again by restoring Groot's World Pod to bring back his race.[6] The Guardians went to Planet X to plant the World Pod but was infested with feral symbiotes by Thanos, forcing them to destroy the planet to get rid of most of them. The World Pod was then planted on Planet Y, where the Flora colossus will one day coexist with the remaining pure Symbiotes, but will sprout within a billion millennia.[7]

Marvel Cinematic Universe (Earth-199999)[]

Groot and his offspring were members of the Flora colossus race.[8] Their language, although difficult to understand, was known throughout the universe, even to the Asgardians.[9]

Earth-TRN912[]

The Flora Colossi were a species of plant-like humanoids from Planet X who spoke Taluhnisan. During the Galactic War, the Flora Colossi were driven to extinction by the Chitauri, with Groot barely surviving.[10]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

Flora colossus physiology:

  • Strength: their tree like form provides them great strength. They are able lift many heavy objects including several men on just one arm.
  • Durability: Their hide is composed of wood dense enough and durable enough to make them immune to most conventional weapons, including gunfire and fire which would consume most woods. They can endure the loss of entire limbs apparently without experiencing pain.
  • Cellular regeneration: they an amazing healing factor and have been shown to be able to regenerate everything from a missing limb to their whole body.
  • Spores: they have the ability to produce tiny phosphorescent spores that float through the air and offer enough ambient light to illuminate a small area.
  • Plasticity: they have the ability to stretch their limbs for long distances and reshape them for a variety of tasks. They normally take the shape of a large tree-like humanoid, but can also weave their limbs into a dense tangle of vines. Individual pseudopods can be grown at will, to act as fingers, rudimentary tools, or even bud a small flower.

Abilities

Genius Intellect

Weaknesses

Language Barrier: The language of the Flora colossus is almost impossible to understand due to the stiffness of the larynxes that make their speech continuously sound like they're saying "I am Groot" over and over again. Black Bolt's brother Maximus the Mad asserted that whenever Groot is saying his trademark "I am Groot!" he has actually been saying any number of things and people, who are oblivious to the subtle nuances of his speech misinterpret him as merely repeating his name.[11]

Fungal Infection: The Flora colossi are vulnerable to a parasitic fungal infection originating from the Deadwoods. This infection can mutate the Flora colossi into monstrous versions of themselves, causing them immense pain which can drive them mad. Presently there's no cure for it, though it was eventually exterminated, with Agz being the last carrier.[12]

Habitat

Habitat

Biome

Gravity

Unknown

Atmosphere

Unknown

Population

Unknown

Miscellaneous

Type of Government

Oligarchy

Representatives

Notes

  • Given that all Flora colossi can only vocalize "I am Groot," it is possible that the various Groots that have appeared in Marvel Comics are actually separate entities from the one currently on the Guardians team.
    • However, in Groot (Vol. 2), other Flora colossi were seen speaking their own unique variation of the language, using their own names such as Gleef, Tweeg and Agz.

Trivia

  • In Tales of Suspense #4, explorers from Earth encountered a seemingly uninhabited planet in system 427 in the year 2500. It turns out that the planet was actually dominated by sentient, animate trees. It is unknown if there is any connection between this race of trees and Groot.
  • Bounty hunter Killer Thrill after having her arm bitten off replaced it with the limb of a Flora colossi.[13]

See Also

Links and References

References

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