A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Quadrupes,-edis (m.f. and n.III), abl.sg. quadrupede, nom. & acc. Pl. quadrupedes, gen.pl. quadrupedum; also quadripes,-pedis, abl. sg. quadripede: an animal with four feet, esp. an ungulate mammal; a quadruped, four-footed creature (mostly of beasts of draught or burden (Lewis & Short) [> L. quadrupes (quadripes) (adj.B), gen.sg. qudrupedis, gen. pl. quadrupedium (adj.B), having four feet, going on four feet];

NOTE: a noun with three genders:

1. when masculine, “mostly of beasts of draught or burden” (Lewis & Short).

2. when feminine[sc. bestia,-ae (s.f.I).; i.e. bestia quadrupes).

3. when neuter (sc. animal (s.n.III), gen. sg. animalis; i.e. animal quadrupes, abl.sg. animali quadrupede).

- [Helicteres] Cal. Perianthium monophyllum, semiovatum, inferne angustum oblique patens (ut auris quadrupedis) (Linn.), Calyx. The perianth monophyllous [i.e. gamophyllous: “with leaves united by their edges”], semiovate [i.e. one side only, or ovate in longitudinal halves], narrow below, obliquely spreading (as the ear of a quadruped).

- quadrupes,-pedis (s.f./n.III) cornuta or cornutum, i.e. elephant; see quadrupes,-edis.

- Ibidem & animalia visendae magnitudinis: in Quadrupedibus Elephas, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus nascuntur (Ray), in the same place arise animals for the observing of magnitude: among the quadrupeds the Elephant, Rhinoceros, Hippopotamus.

- [Laurus] culta ubique in America calidíori, fructu eduli, omnibus quadrupedibus gratissimo (Swartz), cultivated everywhere in hotter America, with an edible fruit, highly prized by all quadrupeds.