Strictum

Strictum is a Latin adjective form (neuter singular) derived from strictus, meaning tight, drawn taut, strict, or severe. In scientific Latin, it appears as an epithet in taxonomic names and as a descriptor in descriptive phrases within manuscripts.

In taxonomy, strictum is used as a species epithet in zoology and botany. Its gender form aligns with the genus name according to classical Latin grammar; masculine forms typically end in -us, feminine forms in -a, and neuter forms in -um. The neuter form strictum is therefore common in genera whose name is neuter, or when the original author chose the neuter epithet. The exact sense of the epithet depends on the author's description and may refer to features deemed tight, rigid, or strictly arranged in the organism.

Beyond taxonomy, strictum can appear in classical Latin texts as part of phrases describing objects or actions in a strict or severe manner. In modern scientific usage, however, the term is mainly encountered as a descriptive epithet rather than as a standalone term with a fixed technical meaning.

Variant forms include strictus, stricta, and related compounds, reflecting gender and grammatical agreement rather than distinct concepts. The word is cognate with English strict and retains similar semantic fields of constraint or severity.