Coccineus

Coccineus is a Latin adjectival epithet used in biological nomenclature. In binomial names it denotes scarlet or crimson coloration observed in the organism. It has gendered forms: coccineus for masculine, coccinea for feminine, and coccineum for neuter, agreeing with the genus name.

Etymology and meaning: the epithet derives from Latin coccinus, meaning scarlet or crimson. Its use reflects a characteristic color feature of the species or taxon it describes, rather than implying any broader taxonomic relationship.

Usage in taxonomy: coccineus is widely employed across plants and animals as a descriptive descriptor within scientific names. It is not a separate taxonomic rank or category; instead, it communicates a notable red or scarlet trait, such as color of flowers, fruits, or body parts, to help distinguish taxa.

Example: a well-known instance is Quercus coccinea, commonly called the scarlet oak, which illustrates how the epithet conveys a distinctive red autumn coloration associated with that species. Other taxa may also bear the epithet in various ranks depending on the describer’s assessment of coloration.

Notes: as with other Latin epithets, the epithet itself is not capitalized, while the genus name is capitalized. The agreement in gender ensures proper grammatical concordance within the binomial name.

See also: Latin grammar in taxonomy; color epithets in scientific naming.