A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Peltis,-idis (s.f.III), abl.sg. peltide: -peltis,-idis (s.f.III), abl.sg. –peltide: this third-declension noun seems to be only a construct used in botanical and other biological taxonomic names and does not occur in classical Greek or Latin. Many available sources suggest the word derives from “pelta,-ae (s.f.I)” in Latin, or “peltE,-Es (s.f.I)” in Greek, meaning “shield,” implying both a round shape and a protective function, such as the indusium of a fern, or the scale of a snake. The word is declined like Latin ‘cuspis,-idis’ (s.f.III), the cusp; see pelta,-ae (s.f.I);

         singular                 plural
  Nom. Carpopeltis  (s.f.III)  Carpopeltides
  Gen. Carpopeltidis           Carpopeltidum
  Dat. Carpopeltidi            Carpopeltidibus
  Acc. Carpopeltidem           Carpopeltides
  Abl. Carpopeltide            Carpopeltidibus

- Achoropeltis,-idis (s.f.III), Acaropeltis,-idis (s.f.III), Adenopeltis,-idis (s.f.III) (Euphorbiaceae); Anapeltis,-idis (s.f.III) (Polypodiaceae); Anopeltis, -idis (s.f.III) (fungus; Capnodiaceae); Callipeltis,-idis (s.f.III) (Rubiaceae); Chaetopeltis,-idis (s.f.III); Diplopeltis,-idis (s.f.III) (Sapindaceae); Homalopeltis,-idis (s.f.III); ‘watershield;’ Hypopeltis,-idis (s.f.III) (Dryopteridaceae); Pleopeltis,-idis (s.f.III) (Polypodiaceae); Neuropeltis,-idis (s.f.III) (Convolvulaceae); Uredopeltis,-idis (s.f.III).

Adenopeltis,-idis (s.f.III), subtribe: Adenopeltinae, from adeno-, gland + pelta,-ae (s.f.I) + -inae.

Cyclopeltis,-idis (s.f.III)(Lomariopsidaceae), from kyklos, a circle + pelte, a buckler (shield) (Paxton; Polypodiaceae).

Hydropeltis (Cabombaceae) = Brasenia schreberi, from Gk. hydor, water + pelte, a buckler; the plant grows in water and the leaves are like a buckler (a round shield) (Paxton; Nymphaeaceae).

Leucolaena sect. Pentapeltis (pentapeltis,-idis (s.f.III).

Pleopeltis,-idis (s.f.III), abl.sg. Pleopeltid, “from pleos, full + pelte, a shield; the form of the indusium” (Paxton). (Polypodiaceae).

Subfamily: Pleopeltidoideae

Goniophlebium pleopeltis; Marginaria pleopeltidis [=gen.sg. of Pleopeltis]; Polypodium pleopeltidis.

Tetrapeltis,-idis (s.f.III) “from tetra, four, and pelte, a buckler (a round shield); in reference to the pollen masses” Orchidceae (Paxton).

NOTE: Actinopelte Sacc. as well as Actinopeltis Hoehnel, the first genus is a first declension noun, the second a third declension.

(zoology):

Peltis,-idis (s.f.III), abl.sg. Peltide, a genus of beetles of North America and Europe; the sole member of the family Peltidae (formerly in the Trogossitidae).

Helopeltis,-idis (sf.III), mosquito bug, family Miridae NOTE: epithets displayed for this genus include those that are masculine : H. sumatranus; H. clavifer; however, H. theivora (a feminine ending).

Lampropeltis,-idis (s.f.III), Kingsnake (Colubridae), lampro-, shining, bright + peltis (from Gk. peltE, a small shield); “shining shield;” an allusion to the bright, vibrantly colored enamel-like dorsal scales (the scale = the pelta).

Family names: -peltidaceae: Chaetopeltidaceae (green algae); Erythropeltidaceae (Rhodophyta); Hydropeltidaceae (syn. of Cabombaceae; water lilies).