citrinus

Citrinus is a Latin adjective meaning lemon-yellow, used in scientific naming to describe a yellow coloration of a taxon. In binomial nomenclature, citrinus functions as a specific epithet and must agree in gender with the genus: citrinus for masculine genera, citrina for feminine genera, and citrinum for neuter genera.

In taxonomy, citrinus appears across a range of organisms, including plants, insects, and fungi, wherever a yellow hue is a notable characteristic. The epithet is chosen to highlight features such as yellow petals, fruits, seeds, or body coloration that help distinguish a species from related taxa.

Etymology and grammar: citrinus derives from the Latin word citrus or citrus, meaning lemon, with the suffix -inus forming adjectives. The form you see in a name will depend on the grammatical gender of the genus to which it is attached.

Usage notes: Citri nus is one of many color-based descriptors used in naming; it does not denote taxonomic rank beyond the species level. It is not a standalone taxon or genus. In modern practice, citrinus as an epithet is less common than some other color descriptors, but it remains a valid Latin form when it matches the genus gender.

Relation to other terms: citrinus should not be confused with citrine, the common name for yellow quartz in mineralogy; citrine is a separate term arising from a different naming tradition.