angustifolium

Angustifolium is a botanical Latin term used as a species epithet in the scientific names of numerous plants. It is not a taxon by itself; rather, it describes a characteristic of the plant—specifically, narrow or slender leaves.

Etymology: The name combines Latin angustus meaning "narrow" and folium meaning "leaf." The epithet is typically treated as neuter in form, and it must agree with the gender of the genus in proper botanical Latin; as such, some genera may use related forms such as angustifolia or angustifolius depending on gender.

Usage: angustifolium appears across many plant genera and families. Each occurrence refers to a distinct species whose leaves are comparatively narrow, but the epithet provides only a descriptive clue and does not define any shared evolutionary lineage.

Notes: Like all epithets, angustifolium can be used in validly published names or as part of synonyms when species are reclassified. The correct form depends on the genus name; for current usage in a given taxon, consult taxonomic databases and literature such as the International Plant Names Index (IPNI).

See also: botanical nomenclature; Latin adjectives in taxonomy; plant morphology.