Tilsi

Tilsi is a fictional genus of flowering plants in the mint family (Lamiaceae). It is used in educational contexts to illustrate standard plant-taxon descriptions and serves as a practical example in introductory guides to botanical nomenclature. In the constructed flora, Tilsi comprises several species native to the Mediterranean region and nearby islands, where they occupy dry, rocky habitats.

Description: Tilsi plants are small, herbaceous perennials with square stems and opposite, aromatic leaves. The leaves are oval to lanceolate with serrated margins. Inflorescences appear in dense verticillasters bearing small bilabiate flowers, typically blue or violet, with a two-lipped corolla. The fruit is a schizocarp that divides into four nutlets.

Distribution and ecology: In the imagined range, Tilsi species favor well-drained calcareous soils, full sun, and moderate irrigation in cultivation. They are pollinated by bees and butterflies and can tolerate drought once established. In their fictional ecosystem, they may interact with local pollinator communities and competing herbaceous flora.

Taxonomy and naming: The genus Tilsi was described by fictional botanists A. Verdant and B. Hale in 1983. The name is constructed for teaching purposes and has no official status outside educational scenarios. In this context, Tilsi is used to demonstrate standard steps of describing a new genus, including diagnostic features and typical habitat.

Uses and cultivation: Tilsi is primarily used ornamentally in simulated horticultural guides; in the fictional setting, leaves are sometimes mentioned in passing as being mildly aromatic. No real-world pharmacological claims are attached to Tilsi within this educational framework.