A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

Lepis,-idis (s.f.III), abl.sg. lepide: a scale; = L. squama,-ae (s.f.I); see scale.

-lepis,-idis (s.f.III): in Gk. comp., -scaled; see lepido-, in Gk. comp., scale-, scaly; see scale

        singular         plural 
Nom.  -lepis         -lepides 
Gen.   -lepidis      -lepidum 
Dat.   -lepidi        -lepidibus 
Acc.   -lepidem     -lepides 
Abl.    -lepide       -lepidibus

NOTE: compounds ending in –lepis are not adjectives but nouns in apposition. Each compound ending in –lepis is a feminine noun of the third declension. As such there is only one gender (feminine). As in other third declension nouns, the ablative singular ends in –e (not-i). There is no neuter ending (such as –e in the nom.sg. or –ia in the nom.& acc. pl.); e.g. Bryum brevilepis (not brevilepe).

NOTE: care should be taken to not confuse this word with the Latin lepidus,-a,-um (adj.A), an adj. meaning pleasant, agreeable.

- pileus stipite longo praeditus. Qui aetate deliquescens, foetidus, lepides obtectus. The pileus provided with a long stipe. And this with age deliquescing, foul smelling, covered with scales.

Cardiolepis,-idis (s.f.III), abl. sg. Cardiolepide, with a heart-shaped scale, > kardia (s.f.I), the heart + lepis, scale; Hypolepis scandens (s.f.III) M. Kessler & A.R. Sm.; Lepidium L. "Name from the Greek lepidion, little scale, alluding to the fruit" (Fernald 1950); Leucolepis (s.f.III), > Gk leucos, white + lepis, scale, in reference to the stem leaves; Platylepis (s.f.III) [Orchideae] Labellum lamina parum dilatata (B&H), the lower labellum with the lamina somewhat dilated; Sclerolepis (s.f.III) > Gk. scleros, hard + lepis, a scale, “from the pappus” (Fernald 1950); Spermolepis Raf. [ > Gk. "sperma, seed, and lepis, scale, alluding to the scurfy or bristly fruit" (Fernald 1950).

Lepidomyces.

NOTE: not to be confused with lapis,-idis, q.v., a stone.

NOTE: -pholis,-idos (s.f.III), q.v., in Gk. comp. -scale: a horny scale (of reptiles), “opp. lepis (of fishes).”

- chlorolepis, with green scales; chrysolepis, with scales having the luster of gold; diplolepis, in mosses, with a double peristome; haplolepis, in mosses, with a single peristome; oxylepis, with sharp scales; heterolepis, with unequal scales; oxylepis, with sharp scales; platylepis, with broad scales; polylepis, with many scales.

Carex oxylepis Torr. & Hook., sharp-scaled; Sporobolus heterolepis.