annualis

Annualis is a Latin adjective meaning "annual" or "yearly." In scientific naming, annualis is used as a specific epithet within binomial nomenclature to signal that a taxon has an annual life cycle or is associated with yearly events. The epithet appears across multiple kingdoms and is commonly found in botany, mycology, and zoology, where it often denotes a trait tied to a single growing season or calendar year.

In botanical usage, annualis typically refers to plants that complete their life cycle within one growing season, producing seeds before dying. In fungi and animals, the epithet likewise conveys an annual habit or seasonally recurring characteristic, though its exact interpretation can vary by lineage and context. The term functions descriptively rather than taxonomically, adding information about biology or ecology rather than indicating a rank.

Grammar and form: annualis is treated as a Latin adjective and generally agrees with the genus name in gender and number, remaining part of the species epithet in written form. The precise inflection follows standard Latin agreement rules used in taxonomic naming.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin annus, meaning “year.” In modern nomenclature, it is retained in lowercase within scientific names and cataloged in taxonomic databases as a descriptive epithet.

See also: Latin binomial nomenclature; plant life cycle; annual plant.