Otsesugulus

Otsesugulus is a fictional genus of flowering plants created for use in speculative botany and world-building exercises. It comprises a single described species, Otsesugulus mirabilis, and is used to illustrate patterns of montane endemism and plant diversification in a hypothetical biodiversity hotspot.

Morphology and description of the plant are given to resemble a typical member of the Asteraceae. Otsesugulus mirabilis is described as a herbaceous plant or short shrub, reaching up to about 1 meter in height. It has oppositely arranged leaves with a glossy, green surface. The inflorescence is a capitulum typical of the family, featuring lavender to pale violet ray florets surrounding a central disk of yellow disk florets. The fruit is a small dry achene with a light-weight pappus that aids wind dispersal.

Habitat and distribution are specified as montane cloud forest conditions on a fictional island chain. The species is said to occur at elevations roughly between 1,200 and 2,600 meters, thriving in shaded, humid understory environments where it often grows among moss-covered rocks and decaying wood. Its ecological role is described as a nectar source for several simulated pollinator guilds and as part of a diverse understory plant community.

Taxonomy, history, and etymology are concise. Otsesugulus mirabilis was attributed to fictional botanists and introduced in a 2012-era narrative that explores speciation in isolated montane systems. The name Otsesugulus is presented as derived from a fictitious local term for “delicate blossom,” with the suffix -ulus used to indicate a small or modest form.