Difference between revisions of "Epithet"
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| − | '''epithet''' (''pl.'' epithets) – the part of a [[binominal]] that refers to the species, often a descriptive term in the form of a ''Latin'' (or ''Latin''-sounding) adjective, that refers to a characteristic trait of a particular species, frequently also used to commemorate and honour a particular person, e. g., a famous taxonomist or a collector of a particular species. Older Floras often used to capitalize the specific epithet if it referred to a person, however, this practise is now longer accepted in the Botanical Code of Nomenclature and all epithets are no longer capitalized. The specific epithet alone is not a valid species name but always has to be used in conjunction with a genus name, and must also include a reference to the [[author]]; ''see'' [[species name]]. | + | '''epithet''' ([[Category:Noun]][[:Category:Noun|noun]], ''pl.'' epithets; [[Category:Nomenclature term]][[:Category:Nomenclature term|nomenclature term]]) – the part of a [[binominal]] that refers to the species, often a descriptive term in the form of a ''Latin'' (or ''Latin''-sounding) adjective, that refers to a characteristic trait of a particular species, frequently also used to commemorate and honour a particular person, e. g., a famous taxonomist or a collector of a particular species. Older Floras often used to capitalize the specific [[epithet]] if it referred to a person, however, this practise is now longer accepted in the Botanical Code of Nomenclature and all epithets are no longer capitalized. The specific epithet alone is not a valid species name but always has to be used in conjunction with a genus name, and must also include a reference to the [[author]]; ''see'' [[species name]]. |
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Latest revision as of 02:00, 7 December 2005
epithet (noun, pl. epithets;nomenclature term) – the part of a binominal that refers to the species, often a descriptive term in the form of a Latin (or Latin-sounding) adjective, that refers to a characteristic trait of a particular species, frequently also used to commemorate and honour a particular person, e. g., a famous taxonomist or a collector of a particular species. Older Floras often used to capitalize the specific epithet if it referred to a person, however, this practise is now longer accepted in the Botanical Code of Nomenclature and all epithets are no longer capitalized. The specific epithet alone is not a valid species name but always has to be used in conjunction with a genus name, and must also include a reference to the author; see species name.
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