Etanolisella

Etanolisella is a small, monotypic genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, endemic to montane cloud forests of Central America. The genus consists of a single species, Etanolisella montana, which was described in 2016 by botanist Ana Rivera. The name Etanolisella honors the researchers involved in its study, while montana indicates the plant’s preference for montane habitats.

Description

Etanolisella montana is an herbaceous perennial that typically reaches up to 40 cm in height. It forms a basal rosette of lanceolate leaves, with one to three flowering stalks bearing cluster-like inflorescences. Each head contains about 8–12 yellow ray florets surrounding a central aggregation of disc florets. The fruit is an achene with a white pappus, aiding wind dispersal.

Distribution and habitat

The species is known from a limited number of cloud-forest sites on the Cordillera Central, at elevations around 1,400–1,900 meters. It favors shaded, moist slopes with rich leaf litter and is usually found in the understory or along forest edges.

Ecology

Etanolisella montana is pollinated primarily by native bees and hoverflies. Seed dispersal is mainly wind-driven, aided by the pappus on the achenes. The plant’s restricted range, combined with ongoing forest degradation in parts of its range, makes its long-term persistence sensitive to habitat conservation.

Taxonomy and status

Etanolisella is currently treated as a monotypic genus within Asteraceae. Formal conservation assessments have not been widely applied, but regional surveys indicate the species may be vulnerable due to habitat loss.