A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Fetus (also foetus),-us (s.m.IV), abl. sg. fetu, but abl. pl. fetis: “an unborn or unhatched young vertebrate esp. after passing through the earliest developmental stages and attaining the basic structural plan of its kind” (WIII) [> L. fetus,-us (s.m.IV), a bringing forth, the action of bearing of young; young, offspring, progeny; (of plants) fruit, produce; progeny, growth; (of animals) production (Lewis & Short)]; see embryo.

NOTE: embryo,-onis (s.n.III), abl. sg. embryone, the embryo, q.v., is used as a synonym of the early fetus.

- Gemmas appello Arborum & Fruticum foetus [nom.pl.] novellos, quos quotannis, ut dixi, aestate pariunt, squammosis tegumentis velut fecundis obvolutos, in quibus per totam 'hyemem latitant, adversus aeris injurias securi (Ray), I call [i.e.designate] the young fetuses the ‘gemmae’ [i.e. ‘buds’] of trees and shrubs, which every year [i.e. annually], as I have said, come forth in summer, enveloped by scaley [i.e. ‘large-scaled] integuments just as if fertile, in which they lay secure [i.e. hidden] throughout the entire winter, safe from the adverse injuries of the air [i.e. atmosphere].

fetus (foetus),-a,-um (adj.A): pregnant, breeding; (of land) fruitful, productive (terra feta); (in general) filled with anything, full, full of, + ablative; that has brought forth, newly delivered (Lewis & Short); cf. scatens,-entis (part.B), + abl.: abounding with, swarming with; cf. praegnans,-antis (part.B); see fertile; cf. swollen; see ‘filled;’

- siliqua bicapsularis in seipsam introrsum revolvitur, ac in duo loculamenta dividitur seminibus foeta (Tourn.), siliqua with two capsules, rolled back into itself toward the inside, and into two compartments [i.e. locules] divided, filled with seeds.

- folia stomatibus convexis cavernisque respiratoriis aere foetis praedita, the leaves provided with convex stomates and respiratory chambers filled with air.

- ex calyce autem surgit pistillum posticae floris parti adinstar clavi infixum, quod deinde abit in fructum in duo loculamenta divisum seminibusque foetum ut plurimum oblongis (Tourne.), furthermore, the pistil arises from the calyx on the back part of the flower, driven in like a nail, which in the end changes into the fruit, divided into two compartments and nearly always filled with oblong seeds.

- arbores calycibus glandulis vesicularibus oleo volatili foetis instructae (DeCandolle), trees provided with calyces with vesicular [i.e. bladder-like] glandules full of a volatile oil.

- herbae annuae aut perennes, seu suffruticosae, succo lacteo albo, rarius flavo croceo seu sanguineo, foetae (DeCandolle), an annual or perennial herb or subshrub, full of a milky white, more rarely yellow, crocus-colored or blood-red sap.

- herbae succo aqueo nee lacteo foetae (DeCandolle), herbs filled with an aqueous sap, not milk-white.

- herbae annuae, succo flavo foetae (DeCandolle), annual herbs filled with a yellow sap.

- pistillum deinde abit in fructum seminibus foetam exiguis, the pistil finally changes into a fruit pregnant [i.e. filled] with scanty seeds (i.e. few-seeded].

- herbae perennes sempervirentes tenerae, succo croceo acri foetae (DeCandolle), perennial herbs, always green [i.e. evergreen], tender, filled with an acrid crocus-colored sap.

- herbae biennes, sempervirentes, glaucae, succo croceo acri scatentes (DeCandolle), biennial herbs, evergreen, glaucous, filled with an acid crocus-[i.e. saffron-] colored juice.