Hillosta

Hillosta is a fictional genus of flowering plants created for use in botanical education and as a case study in taxonomy. In this article Hillosta is treated as a small, monotypic genus within the family Asteraceae, comprising a single species, Hillosta montana.

Hillosta montana is a perennial herb with an erect, somewhat branched stem reaching 40–120 cm in height. Leaves are alternate, lanceolate to ovate, with serrated margins; the upper surface is dark green and the underside pale and softly hairy. Inflorescences appear as terminal heads (capitula) with yellow ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disk florets; the heads are subtended by leafy bracts. Fruits are achenes with a light pappus of bristles, enabling wind dispersal.

Distribution and habitat: Hillosta montana is described from montane forest environments at elevations around 1200–2000 meters in a temperate, upland region.

Ecology and reproduction: The plant is pollinated primarily by bees and butterflies; seed set is highest under partial shade and moist soil conditions.

Conservation and status: As a fictional taxon, Hillosta montana has no formal conservation assessment.

Etymology and nomenclature: The genus name Hillosta is a constructed term combining a reference to upland habitat with a common botanical suffix; the species epithet montana denotes mountain origin.

Significance: The Hillosta entry is used to illustrate standard elements of plant descriptions, including morphology, habitat, and reproductive biology, for educational purposes.