Lenhosa

Lenhosa is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. It comprises two species and is native to the montane cloud forests of the Valoria Range in the fictional region of Valora. The genus was first described in 1983 by botanist M. Kato, and the name Lenhosa is said to derive from the local lenho term meaning bright and resilient.

Description: Lenhosa plants are shrubs or small trees reaching up to 3 meters in height. Leaves are opposite, simple, lanceolate, with finely serrate margins. The inflorescences are heads typical of Asteraceae, solitary at the ends of branches, with bright yellow ray florets surrounding a central cluster of disc florets. The fruit is a glabrous achene with a pale pappus for wind dispersal.

Distribution and habitat: Endemic to cloud forests at elevations between 1,200 and 2,300 meters, Lenhosa grows on moss-covered slopes and along streams. It is threatened by deforestation, mining, and climate change, and several populations are confined to small, isolated fragments. Regional assessments list Lenhosa as endangered; ex-situ conservation programs and limited in-situ protections exist in a few protected areas.

Ecology and uses: Local communities have used Lenhosa species in traditional medicine and as ornamentals. In research contexts, scientists study the plants' secondary metabolites, particularly flavonoids and terpenoids, and examine their ecological interactions with pollinators. Efforts to restore habitat and to establish cultivated populations aim to secure the genus's survival.