<< > [Blue elf isogamy] is certainly possible, although not quite the
interpretation I make of their description as 'hermaphrodites'.
Prithee, do go on. ;-) I infer you mean that they'd have one sex, but two sorts of gametes, then? >>
That's the usual meaning of hermaphrodite :-)
There are many botanical instances of plants which are male and female
at different times of the year (i.e. their stamens mature faster than their
stigmas, or vice versa), which is an alternative model to the usual animal
hermaphrodite (such as snails). OTOH, it resembles some of the animal-based
mermen rather too closely, IMO - given the 'intersex' associations of water
in Glorantha, I think there ought to be some blatant hermaphrodites in the
oceans somewhere.
<< (As do most familiar plants, of course; seaweed I admit I could do with some brushing up on...) >>
Seaweed can be oogamous (e.g. kelp), isogamous, anisogamous or monoecious (botany-speak for hermaphrodite), which covers just about every option one could think of, really.
Forward the glorious Red Army!
Trotsky
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