autumnalis

Autumnalis is a Latin epithet used in biological nomenclature to indicate autumn-related traits in a taxon. It is not a genus or a standalone taxon, but rather a descriptive element that can appear within a species name or cultivar designation. The term most commonly signals autumn flowering or other autumnal characteristics.

Etymology and form: Autumnalis comes from autumnus, meaning autumn, combined with the adjective-forming suffix -alis. In taxonomic practice, the epithet is adjusted to agree with the gender of the genus name, following standard Latin grammar used in scientific naming.

Taxonomic usage: In botany and horticulture, autumnalis appears as a specific epithet in many plant species and varieties and is often used to denote taxa that bloom or fruit in autumn. While its primary association is botanical, the epithet can also appear in zoological or mycological names to reflect autumnal aspects of a life stage or fruiting season, though this usage is less common than in plants. The exact meaning is context-dependent, reflecting the describer’s intent for that taxon.

Nomenclatural notes: As a descriptive epithet, autumnalis does not by itself define a taxonomic rank beyond being part of the species name. Its interpretation relies on the accompanying genus and the published description, within the rules of the relevant code governing nomenclature.

In horticulture, autumnalis may also appear in cultivar labels or marketing names, signaling autumn bloom or color traits desirable to gardeners. See also seasonal epithet, Latin binomials, and plant taxonomy.