A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

epigaeus,-a,-um (adj.A): epigean, above or upon the ground, supraterranean; syn. supraterraneus,-a,-um (adj.A); opp. hypogaeus,-a,-um (adj.A), subterraneus,-a,-um (adj.A), ‘below ground, subterranean;’ cf. aerial;

- pseudobulbis epigaeis vel hypogaeis, with pseudobulbs above or below ground.

- caule hypogeo vel leviter epigeo, with stem subterranean or slightly above ground.

- praeter ligna alias etiam quisquilias varias epigaeas occupat: ita v. c. praegrandem in amentis populinis dejectis putrefactis vidimus etc. (S&A), in addition to woods, it occupies also various refuse lying on the ground: thus very large [vidi cultam, I have seen it grown] on the rotted, fallen catkins of Poplar.

- [Palmae]: radix primaria cito evanida, caudice base radiculas plurimas cylindraceas simplices v. ramosas epigaeas v. hypogaeas emittente, the primary root quickly vanishing, with the caudex at the base sending out many cylindric, unbranched or branched, supra- or subterranean radicles.

- copiose innascitur fungillus noster elegantulus epigaeus solo praesertim argillaceo subdeclivi humidiusculo inter Polytricha, in sylvis, secus vias, etc. (S&A), our rather elegant little fungus grows copiously on top of the ground, on soil, especially argillaceous [i.e. clay soil] in rather downward-sloping soil, slightly moist, among [the mosses] Polytrichum, in forests, along roads, etc.

Note variant: Carex epigejos (L.) Roth, “upon the ground; from its stoloniferous habit” (Fernald 1950); Climacium epigaeum Stirt.