meredele

Meredele is a fictional plant species created for speculative fiction and role-playing settings. It does not exist in the real world, but is described as part of alternate-world ecosystems and lore used to illustrate ecological and cultural dynamics.

In the in-universe taxonomy, Meredele is placed within the plant kingdom and assigned to the family Merediaceae, genus Meredea, with the species epithet meredele. The classification is symbolic, designed to evoke a distinct lineage rather than reflect real taxa.

Meredele is described as a small evergreen shrub or liana reaching two to four meters in height. It has lanceolate leaves with finely serrated margins, pale venation, and a cinnamon-tinted bark. The plant produces coppery, bell-shaped flowers.

In its imagined habitat, meredele grows in cloud-forests of the continent of Valoria, at elevations of about 1,200 to 2,200 meters. It prefers moist, acidic loams and restricted sunlight, tolerating cool to temperate temperatures with regular fog.

Ecologically, meredele forms mutualisms with nocturnal hawkmoths for pollination and with frugivorous mammals that disperse its seeds. It is moderately slow-growing and sensitive to habitat disturbance, making it a common focal point in conservation-storylines.

Culturally, meredele is depicted as a source of resin used in varnishes and a plant dye yielding a greenish pigment. In some narratives, seeds are pressed for oil, and traditional healers employ bark infusions to treat fever and inflammation.