carinata

Carinata is a Latin adjective meaning "keeled" (from carina, "keel") used as a species epithet in biological nomenclature. As an adjective, it agrees in gender with the genus name and appears across a wide range of taxa to denote a structure that is ridged or keeled. Because of its descriptive nature, carinata is attached to numerous species of plants, animals, and other organisms rather than referring to a single taxon.

A well-known example is Brassica carinata, commonly called Ethiopian mustard or Abyssinian mustard. Belonging to the family Brassicaceae, it is native to the Horn of Africa and has been cultivated for centuries for its edible leaves and oil-bearing seeds. Leaves are used as a leafy vegetable in regional cuisines, while seed oil has applications in food, industrial uses and emerging biofuel research. Brassica carinata is also of interest in plant breeding and agronomy for its tolerance traits and as a genetic resource in Brassica improvement programs.

Beyond Brassica, the epithet carinata appears in names of various insects, mollusks, and plants, each instance referring to a keel-like morphological feature specific to that species. Usage of the term is purely descriptive and context-dependent, requiring the accompanying genus name to identify the organism intended.