A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

tortuous, “having an irregular, bending, and turning direction:” anfractuosus,-a,-um (adj.A), tortus,-a,-um (part.A), q.v.; tortuosus,-a,-um (adj.A): tortuous, bent or twisted in different directions, involved, complicated, irregularly twisted, intricate; (in fungi) “bent or twisted in different directions” (S&D); see complex;

- pedunculo magis tortuoso, by the peduncle more irregularly twisted.

- [moss] folia muscorum tortuosa, cirrhata, cincinnata quae non tantum superficie sed etiam marginibus et apice variis gyris contorquentur et diversis modis crispantur vt in Weissià Diksoni siccescente; Hedwigià lapponicà, Dicrano cirrhato etc. (Bridel), the leaves of mosses are tortuose [i.e. irregularly twisted in different directions], cirrhate [i.e. in spiralling tendrils], cincinnate [i.e. in (tight) ringlets], which not only on the surface but also on the margins and the apex by various spirals are also contorted and in different ways are crisped [i.e. irregularly waved and twisted] as in Weissia Diksoni as it is drying out; Hedwigia lapponica, Dicranum cirrhatum etc.