brevifolius

Brevifolius is a Latin adjective used in the scientific names of plants to describe a characteristic of the leaves. The term derives from breve meaning short and folius meaning leaf, and its form changes to agree with the gender of the genus (brevifolius for masculine, brevifolia for feminine, brevifolium for neuter). In botanical nomenclature, brevifolius is an epithet rather than a standalone taxon, and it has been applied to many species across different genera to indicate relatively short leaves.

Because it is descriptive rather than unique, brevifolius appears in a range of plant groups, including some shrubs, trees, and herbaceous species. The presence of this epithet does not by itself imply a close relationship among the taxa bearing it; it simply reflects a shared leaf trait used by the taxonomist who originally described the species. As with other Latin epithets, the spelling may vary in the exact epithet depending on the gender of the genus name.

In published taxonomy, brevifolius has appeared in the names of multiple species across families, and the concept is similar to other leaf-based descriptors such as longifolius (long-leaved) or grandifolius (large-leaved). Researchers and readers encountering a species with brevifolius should consult the original species description or a taxonomic database to confirm its current accepted name and diagnostic characteristics.