A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Epithet, subgeneric: see subgeneric epithet.

Epithet (Eng.noun), a characterizing word or phrase (WIII): epitheton,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. epitheto, nom. & acc. pl. epitheta; “the part of a scientific name identifying the species, variety, or other subunit within a genus (in the scientific name Rosa chinensis longifolia, chinensis is the specific epither and longifolia is the varietal epithet” (WIII) [> epitheton,-i (s.n.II) = Gk. epitheton, (in grammar) an epithet, adjective (Lewis & Short); Gk. epitheton (s.n.II), the adjective (Liddell & Scott)];

- Synonyma. Conferva palustris subhirsuta, filamentis brevioribus & crassioribus Syn. St. Brit. III. p.477. Ubi breviter describitur. Cum vero hirsutia accidentalis sit, epitheton illud in nomine omisi. A Michelio missa nomine Musci capillacei palustris, viticulis minus longis, fragilioribus & bifurcatis (Dill.), Synonyms. ‘Conferva palustris subhirsuta [somewhat hirsute or hairy], with the filaments shorter and thicker. Where it is shortly [i.e. briefly] described. But when there may be an incidental hirsuteness [i.e. shagginess, hairiness], I have omitted that epithet in the name. Sent by Micheli with the name of ‘Musci capillaceous palustris,’ with tendrils less long, more fragile and bifurcate.’

- Quoniam vero utraque Calamariæ species rigida et & fragilis, epitheton illud in nova nomenclatura omisi (Dill.), but because both [i.e. each of the two] species of Calamaria is rigid and fragile, that epithet I have omitted in the new nomenclature.

NOTE: the nomen specificum = the epithet;

- [moss] ex ista definitione Neckerae crispae nomine specificum summopere improprium, quandoquidem eius superficies nullatenus crispa est sed vere undulosa (Brid.), according to that definition of Neckera crispa the species name [i.e. the epithet ‘crispa’] is very improper [i.e. unsuitable], since in fact its surface is in no way crisped but it is actually undulose [i.e. full of small undulations or waves].