Once the opening formalities of the Seeding are complete, the flumphs enter into the normal exchange of genetic material required to create one of their egglike seeds. Rather than place the completed seed in water, however, the flumphs then begin the second stage of the debate, in which they compete for the honor of bearing the seed, citing both their personal achievements and their lack of responsibilities and dependants left on the home world. The winner, chosen by acclaim, carefully wraps up the seed in all of its tentacles. The rest of the community then forms a platform beneath the chosen member, sometimes several flumphs deep, and begins ascending as quickly as their strange flight allows, bearing the seed-holder aloft.