A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

curtus,-a,-um (adj.A), compar. curtior,-ius (adj.B), superl. curtissimus,-a,-um (adj.A): shortened, short; “shortened” (Stearn 1996); “shortened, mutilated, broken, short” (Lewis & Short) [> L. curto,-avi,-atum, 1. to abridge, abbreviate, shorten, cut short]; the word is related in meaning to truncate, with the idea of lopping, shortening, cutting off; see truncatus,-a,-um (part.A); ‘curtus’ implies stumpy, squat, stubby: “short and thick like a stump” (WIII), whereas brevis,-e (adj.B),‘short’implies measuring a small distance in direction. ‘Curtus’ is often used of fungi and lichens to refer to a stipe that is short, thick and stumpy; see brevis,-e (adj.B);

- ramis curtis, with short [i.e. stubby, squat as though cut] branches.

- bracteis aliquantum curtioribus, with the bracts somewhat shorter.

- statura ingens sed curta (S&A), size huge [i.e. of immoderate size] but short i.e. stumpy].

- statura curta robusta (S&A), the height short [i.e. stubby], robust.

- colore quidem omnium fere partium, habitu firmo curto, ac tegumento convexae pilei superficiei convenit cum praecedente (S&A), it certainly agrees with the preceding [species] by the color of all the parts, by the habit, firm, short [i.e. squat], and by the covering of the convex surface of the pileus.

- persistentior quidem antecedente, curtior et firmior est (S&A), it is certainly more persistent than the preceding, shorter and firmer.

- totus fungus curtus compactus firmus (S&A), the entire fungus short [i.e. squat], compact, firm.

- distat statura curtiore, coloreque toto niveo (S&A), it is distant by the shorter i.e. stumpier] stature and the color all snow-white.

- colore nunc e violaceo nunc e castaneo nigro, stipite valde crasso curto albo , habitu nigro afflato (S&A), with the color sometimes a glossy black from violaceous, sometimes chestnut-brown, with the stipe stoutly thick, short [i.e. squat], white, with the habit touched with glossy black.

- stipes centralis teres firmus curtus crassus: 1/2 — 1 unc. longus, 1/2 crassus : pileo concolor (S&A), the central stipe round [i.e. round-cylindrical], firm, short [i.e. squat], thick: 1/2 - 1 inch long, 1/2 [inch] thick: the same color as the pileus.

- apotheciis validis curtis (Nyl.) with the apothecia stout, short [i.e. stumpy].

Aster curtus; Calicium curtum (a Lichen); Barbula curta, Desmatodon curtus (mosses); Carex stricta forma curtissima (very short); Eragrostis curtipedicellata, with a short [and perhaps thick] pedicel.