Plicatum

Plicatum is a Latin adjective used in biological nomenclature as part of a scientific name to indicate a folded or pleated characteristic. It is the neuter singular form of the adjective plicatus (masculine) and plicata (feminine).

In taxonomy, plicatum does not denote a stand-alone taxon; rather, it is a specific epithet that may be applied to species within various genera. The ending of the epithet agrees with the gender of the genus name: plicatum for neuter genera, plicatus for masculine genera, and plicata for feminine genera.

The descriptor typically refers to a pleated, folded, or crinkled morphology observed in the organism, such as folded leaves, petals, or other structural features. The root plic- comes from Latin plica meaning fold, and it is related to the English terms plicate and pleated.

Across botany and zoology, plicatum (and related forms such as plicata or plicatus) appears as a conventional epithet to convey a particular folded appearance. Like many Latin descriptors, its exact morphological implication can vary by genus and species, but the common thread is the reference to a pleated or folded trait.

See also plicatus, plicata, and plicate for related forms and usage in scientific naming.