angustifolia

Angustifolia is a Latin adjectival epithet used in botanical nomenclature. The term translates as “narrow-leaved” and is applied to plant taxa whose leaves are slender compared with related species. It is a descriptive name that appears across diverse genera and is not restricted to any single plant family.

One well-known species bearing the epithet is Echinacea angustifolia, the narrow-leaved purple coneflower. This perennial, in the Asteraceae (sunflower) family, is native to the central part of North America and is commonly cultivated in gardens for its summertime flowers and drought tolerance. The plant typically features narrow, lanceolate leaves and a prominent central cone.

Beyond Echinacea, angustifolia has been used in the scientific names of many other plants, reflecting the same leaf characteristic. In taxonomic practice, the epithet may persist in current names or survive as a historical synonym after revisions to the genus or species.

In summary, angustifolia is a descriptive botanical epithet indicating narrow leaves. It is found across numerous species and genera, serving as a concise morphological descriptor within scientific naming and classification.