cibarius

Cibarius is a Latin adjective meaning edible or fit to be eaten. It derives from cibus, meaning food, and is used in scientific names to signal culinary relevance or edible status of the organism described.

In taxonomy, cibarius is most recognizable as a specific epithet in binomial nomenclature. The best-known example is Cantharellus cibarius, the common chanterelle, a widely harvested edible mushroom. When used in species names, the epithet does not imply a broader taxonomic group but rather a characteristic observed by the describer, in this case that the organism is edible.

Beyond its role in formal names, cibarius as a descriptor reflects a historical tradition in taxonomy of highlighting notable features through Latin epithets. While it is most common in mycology due to the prominence of edible mushrooms, the term can appear in naming across different organisms where culinary use is relevant, though such instances are comparatively rare.

In modern usage, cibarius remains primarily encountered in scientific Latin names and is not commonly adopted as a standalone term in everyday language. Its significance rests on its connection to edibility and the longstanding practice of encoding practical traits within species epithets.