Kandnud

Kandnud is the common name of a small, fictional genus of bioluminescent shrubs described in the flora of the Valraith Highlands. The name is drawn from the local Karun language term kandnud, meaning "glow-shrub."

It currently comprises two described species: Kandnud lumina and Kandnud noctis. Morphologically, kandnud plants are shrubs reaching 0.7–1.5 meters tall, with slender, glossy leaves arranged alternately. The stems bear tiny bioluminescent glands that emit a soft green glow at night, a trait not found in closely related genera.

Distribution and habitat: Endemic to cloud forests of the Valraith Range at elevations between 900 and 1,800 meters. Ecology: Pollinated by nocturnal hawk moths; seed dispersal by fruit bats and small mammals. The two species often form dense understory stands and are shade-tolerant, thriving in cool, humid conditions with filtered light.

Uses and conservation: Local communities harvest Kandnud for ceremonial lighting and traditional medicine; extracts are described in world-building notes for their purported antimicrobial properties. Because of its restricted range and habitat loss from deforestation, Kandnud is listed as vulnerable in regional conservation plans within the fictional setting. Cultivation programs in botanical gardens are described to support living references and research.

Notes: Kandnud is a fictional plant genus created for world-building purposes. The article summarizes a fictional taxonomy and ecology and is not a record of real species.