Lukemisia

Lukemisia is a fictional genus of flowering plants created for educational, speculative, and storytelling purposes. In the imaginary taxonomy used in these works, lukemisia is placed in the family Asteraceae and includes several species, with Lukemisia alba commonly cited as the type species.

Lukemisia plants are herbaceous perennials with erect stems typically ranging from 0.6 to 1.6 meters in height. Leaves are alternately arranged, lanceolate to elliptic, with a rough texture and a pronounced midrib. The inflorescence is a composite head typical of Asteraceae, usually bearing yellow to pale gold disc florets; ray florets, if present, are few.

In the fictional world, lukemisia occurs in temperate grasslands and rocky foothills, favoring well-drained soils and full sun. It is depicted as drought-tolerant, but sensitive to prolonged flooding. The genus is shown as having several species with modest variation in leaf shape and flowering time.

Pollination is performed by bees and butterflies, with seed dispersal by wind aided by a light pappus. Lifespan and flowering periods vary by species, commonly extending from late spring to early autumn within the depicted range.

The genus name combines the given name Luke with the -misia suffix found in Artemisia-like genera, mirroring naming conventions in the fictional world. Lukemisia alba is the type species; the genus is attributed to the fictitious botanist L. A. Kimura in the year 2047 in the stories.

In its fictional context, lukemisia is valued as an ornamental plant for gardens and as a symbolic element representing resilience. Some works describe an essential oil distilled from the leaves with a mild camphoraceous scent, though such uses are not substantiated outside the narrative.