piirpinna

Piirpinna is a fictional plant species described here as part of a worldbuilding flora. It is the only species in the genus Piirpinna, placed in the family Piirpinniaceae.

Piirpinna mirabilis is a compact, herbaceous perennial reaching 10–30 cm in height. It forms a basal rosette of linear to lanceolate leaves, 2–6 cm long, with a dense silvery indumentum that gives the leaf surfaces a velvety texture. The flowering stem bears a short, sparse inflorescence of small, five-lobed flowers, 6–9 mm in diameter, with pale yellow petals and a darker central throat. The fruit is a small dry capsule containing several seeds.

It is endemic to the alpine and subalpine zones of the fictional Nyaru Highlands, at elevations of 1500–2800 m, growing in well-drained soils among moss and lichens on rocky outcrops.

It is pollinated by solitary bees, with seeds dispersed mainly by wind. The plant forms associations with mycorrhizal fungi, aiding nutrient uptake in nutrient-poor soils and often occurs in microhabitats with stable moisture.

Taxonomy and conservation: The genus and species are described in this fictional flora; the name Piirpinna derives from the local Nyaru language, meaning “silver leaf.” The species is considered vulnerable within its regional red list due to habitat disturbance and climate change, with ex situ cultivation in botanical gardens and ongoing conservation planning.