kaybyla

Kaybyla is a fictional genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, created for illustrative purposes. It is described here as monotypic, containing a single species, Kaybyla orientalis. The genus name honors the mythical Kaybyla region, while the specific epithet orientalis indicates its eastern distribution within the imagined Veridian highlands.

Kaybyla orientalis is a perennial herb or small shrub reaching up to 1 meter in height. It has slender, hairless stems; leaves are opposite, ovate with serrated margins. The inflorescence is a capitulum with purple ray florets surrounding a yellow central disk.

Distribution is restricted to cloud forests in the central highlands of the fictional country of Veridia, where it grows on mossy rocks and shaded humus-rich soils at elevations of roughly 1,000 to 2,000 meters. It favors moist, cool microclimates.

Ecology and reproduction: pollination is primarily by bees and butterflies; seeds are dispersed by wind via a small pappus. Flowering occurs mainly from late spring to midsummer in the Veridian seasons. The species is considered rare within its limited range.

Taxonomy and naming: Kaybyla is placed in the tribe Heliantheae within Asteraceae. The name Kaybyla derives from the fictional Kaybyla region, while orientalis reflects its eastern distribution. Because Kaybyla is a constructed example, its conservation status remains illustrative.