Delpys

Delpys is a fictional genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, created for use in world-building and educational exercises. The genus is described as part of a hypothetical flora of a temperate archipelago.

Delpys comprises three described species: Delpys alba, Delpys rubra, and Delpys viridis. The species are herbaceous perennials with rhizomatous stems. Leaves are alternately arranged and lanceolate. Each inflorescence is a capitulum with a variable arrangement of yellow to orange ray florets surrounding a central disk of smaller disk florets. The fruit is a small brown achene with a white plumed pappus, enabling wind dispersal.

Plants reach 0.7–1.5 meters tall. Flowering occurs from late spring to late summer in temperate climates. They prefer well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. They are pollinated by bees and butterflies and are adaptable to coastal and upland grassland habitats.

Endemic to the fictional Archipelago of Delphys, including coastal dunes and montane meadows from sea level to about 1,200 meters.

Because Delpys is fictional, there are no real conservation concerns; in fictional literature, some species are depicted as rare or threatened in their native habitats. In horticulture, Delpys species are described as ornamental garden plants, valued for their vivid inflorescences.

The genus name Delpys is a constructed term used for this article; the species epithets alba, rubra, and viridis reference color and are common Latin adjectives used in plant nomenclature.