sidosaineena

Sidosaineena is a fictional genus of flowering plants created for speculative biology and science fiction worldbuilding. In traditional canons, it is described as a small genus in the family Sidosainaceae, native to the temperate montane forests of the imagined continent of Eldoria. The genus is commonly treated as monotypic, with the sole described species Sidosaineena luminis, though some sources propose a second species, S. ferrata, in alternate canons.

The name combines a Latin-root element sid- from sidus meaning star, with a suffix -aineena to evoke a botanical lineage, a convention used in Eldorian flora.

Sidosaineena luminis is depicted as a herbaceous perennial reaching 50–80 cm tall, with opposite, lanceolate leaves and star-shaped flowers. Petals are often iridescent and lightly luminescent in low light, giving the plant a night-blooming appearance. The fruit is a small capsule containing several seeds with an elaiosome.

In imagined ecology, it thrives in cool, moist environments, often on shaded, calcareous soils. It forms symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi and attracts a variety of pollinators in the Eldorian biosphere. Its luminescence is occasionally attributed to bioluminescent compounds, though this is debated in in-world science.

The genus Sidosaineena was introduced in Eldorian botany by fictitious taxonomist L. Kest in the early 22nd century within field guides and encyclopedias used by researchers in the setting. It has since appeared in horticultural fiction and worldbuilding resources as an ornamental and symbol of nocturnal flora.