A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Macula,-ae (s.f.I): spot, blotch, patch; mesh of network; a broad, irregular blotch (Lindley); a punctum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. puncto: a dot, seems to have clearly defined margines; (fungi) “macula, macule (esp. in medical mycology) a spot” (S&D); see spot;

- sporae ellipticae, hyalinae, medio macula viridi notatae (Agardh), spores elliptical, hyaline, in the middle marked with a green spot.

- (alga) articuli medio macula flavo-viridi plerumque triangulari notati (Agardh), the articuli marked in the middle with a yellow-green usually triangular blotch.

- (alga) siccata sistit maculam veluti pictam, nitentem medio atro-viridem, peripheria vero radiantem filis pulcherrime viridibus, semi -1- uncialibus (Agardh), when dry it presents a blotch just as painted, shining, in the middle dark green, on the periphery truly radiating with threads a most beautiful green, [the threads] one half to one inch.

- Siccata sistit maculam veluti pictam plus minus dilute viridem, nitentem, versus marginem sensim evanescentem. (Agardh), when dry it displays a blotch just as painted, more or less weakly green, shining, toward the margin gradually vanishing.

- crescit in herbarum caulibus firmioribus variis : v. c. Lilii bulbiferi (maculis atris), Delphinii Ajacis , Selini palustris (maculis piceis) (S&A), it grows on the firmer stems of herbs: v.c. of Lilium bulbiferum (a dull black), on Delphinium Ajacis, Seline palustris (with pitch-black spots).

- (fungi) macula circum sphaerulas haud raro effusa (S&A), not rarely is there a blotch spreadout around the sphaerules.

- flores colore vario, plerumque speciosi, petalis saepe macula discolori notatis (B&H), flowers with different colors, usually showy, with the petals often marked with a different-colored spot.

- folia inferné maculis rubris guttata (Swartz), leaves below dotted with red spots.

- [fungus] stipes breviusculus, robustus , albus , maculis guttatis pallentibus pictus (S&A), stipe rather short, robust, white, painted with pale beaded spots.

NOTE: on a glittering surface, the maculae may represent shining ‘specks;’

- maculæ, quas Rajus memorat, si aqua extrahatur planta, comparent (Dill.), the spots [i.e. specks] appear, which Ray tells about, if the water is extracted from the plant.