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We arrived on Planet Farther Away in the midst of a fierce windstorm.  Captain Sophie stepped out onto what first appeared as a massive stretch of seemingly lifeless green and brown land.  Our senses were bombarded with the overpowering presence of vibrant green, in various shapes, shades, and sizes. 

We approached the brown monolithic structure in the center of the planet.  Upon close observation of both the monolith and the ground, we saw that the green in every case was emerging from brown.  The main point of confusion to our team was that there were flat structures of identical size and shape that were different colors, based on location.  The ones on the ground were brown and appeared in various stages of erosion, while the ones on the monolith were green and whole.  We decided that the two must be varying states of the same structure, and one must be alive, the other dead.  We observed the monolith in closer detail to see what the difference might be.  While probing the monolith with her lightsaber, Captain Sophie was attacked by a small flying specimin that flew towards her face in defense.  Such a clear sign of life indicated that the Monolith was a source of life in many varieties! 

Given that the green grew from the monolith, it became clear that green indicated life, while brown was the source of energy for life.  Returning to observe the surface level, we saw that all green structures on the ground also emerged from brown!  Eureka!

We began to search for diversity in the life forms.  A hierarchy emerged in the alien life.  The formless and flat green attached to the monolith was the least complex form of life observed (hereafter referred to as Specimen A).  In various stages of decomposition Specimen A would become flaky, perforated, and moved along the color spectrum from green to brown.  The flat needlelike blades of green that overwhelmed us upon first glance was disappointingly low down on the hierarchy. (Specimen B) While prolific, Specimen B is of a minimal level of complexity, with just one line dividing it in half.  What initially appeared to be a variety of Specimen B we realized was in fact another species entirely.  It is the same height as Specimen B, but is divided into three separate modules, each of which is then divided in half, like a fractal.  (Specimen C)  These consisted of the base life forms on the ground.

The next organisms, which were clearly a higher level of structure, consisted of life forms that were green and flat, like the previously classified specimens, but were highly subdivided on an internal level (as opposed to the external subdivisions of Specimen C.)  These were emerging from the monolith, as well as pseudo-monoliths on the west side of the planet.  We devided these into two separate organisms based on the complexity level of the internal structures (as seen by the lines/veins running through them.)

Specimen D were the structures on the monolith, hanging precariously off the tapering ends of the brown monolith, swaying surreptitiously in the windstorm. They had five main lines and many veins running through them. Specimen E, a variation of Specimen D, was slightly more complex. We concluded that the reason behind this was the increasing ratio of the brown source of energy for life to green. 

-- As observed by Jesse Ingber, Yashaswini Singh, Sophie Balis-Harris!