Meluille

Meluille is a fictional flowering plant species described in speculative botany. It belongs to the family Asteraceae and is the sole species in the genus Meluille, with the scientific name Meluille montana. The plant appears in the imagined flora of the continent of Aridia and is used in world-building and narrative settings.

Meluille montana is a compact perennial herb reaching about 15 to 40 centimeters in height. It has slender stems with opposite, mid-green leaves that are oblanceolate and finely serrated. The inflorescence is a small capitulum with bright yellow ray florets surrounding a darker central disk, and flowering occurs from late spring to early summer.

It is described as native to alpine meadows in Aridia, typically growing on well-drained, rocky soils at elevations around 1,200 to 2,300 meters. The species prefers full sun and is adapted to cold winds; it forms clumps that can tolerate short dry spells after snowmelt.

Ecology and uses: Pollination is attributed to bees and butterflies. Seeds disperse by wind. In horticulture, Meluille montana is used as an ornamental plant in rock gardens and borders in fictional contexts. In Aridian folklore, its leaves are said to have mild anti-inflammatory properties, though this is not supported by evidence.

Taxonomy and etymology: The genus name Meluille and the species epithet montana are described as referencing a honey-like nectar and mountainous habitat, respectively. The species is credited to botanist C. Renard in 1995 in a hypothetical flora of Aridia. No subspecies are recognized.