seletus

Seletus is a fictional genus of flowering plants used in encyclopedic world-building and speculative biology. In its canonical fictional taxonomy, Seletus belongs to the family Seletaceae and includes several species with morphological commonalities.

Characteristics of Seletus plants include shrubs or small trees up to about 4 meters tall, opposite simple leaves with entire margins, and inflorescences that are terminal panicles bearing small tubular flowers with five petals. Flower colors range from white to pale lavender, and the fruit is a woody capsule containing numerous seeds.

Habitat and ecology are described within a hypothetical geography. Seletus species are said to be endemic to montane tropical forests in a fictional region called the Valara Highlands, at elevations from 900 to 1800 meters. They prefer humid, shaded understories but can tolerate periodic disturbance. Pollination is attributed to hummingbirds and small insects, with seed dispersal by wind and gravity.

Taxonomy notes indicate that the genus includes species such as Seletus alba and Seletus ruber in world-building lore. The name Seletus is derived from a constructed Latin root intended to evoke “selection” and “choice” without reference to any real plant.

In cultural use, Seletus is sometimes cited in fictional field guides and biodiversity databases designed to illustrate taxonomy in educational contexts.