SingleA

Singlea is a fictional genus of flowering plants described here for a hypothetical botanical case. It is monotypic, containing a single species, Singlea namensis. The genus, as proposed, belongs to the family Singleaceae and was first described by botanist L. Koval in 2018 from specimens collected in the cloud forests of Namura Island in the western Pacific.

The name Singlea derives from Latin singulus, meaning “single,” in reference to the plant’s solitary flowers in its inflorescences. Morphology describes an herbaceous perennial reaching up to 40 cm tall, with oppositely arranged lanceolate leaves and a solitary terminal inflorescence bearing small white flowers with a five-lobed corolla. The fruit is a rounded capsule.

Singlea namensis is depicted as endemic to Namura Island, restricted to moist montane cloud forests at elevations around 900–1400 meters. Ecological notes suggest pollination by native solitary bees, with seed dispersal occurring through gravity and possibly small mammals; the plant is said to form associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

Conservation and research considerations place the species at risk due to its limited range and ongoing forest loss, making it a hypothetical candidate for endangered status in this scenario. Specimens are described as being cultivated in a small number of botanical gardens for conservation and study. Molecular data, such as DNA barcoding, are suggested to help confirm its distinct status relative to related genera, illustrating how taxonomy often combines field collection with laboratory analysis in modern botany.