cocciferum

Cocciferum is a Latin-form epithet encountered in biological nomenclature. The form is neuter singular and is generally interpreted as “berry-bearing” or “bearing berries,” derived from the roots coccus or cocco- meaning berry or berry-like fruit, together with the suffix -fer, meaning “bearing” or “carrying.” In binomial names, such epithets are adjectives that agree in gender and number with the generic noun.

As a descriptive epithet, cocciferum signals a characteristic of the organism, typically a habit of producing small, berry-shaped fruits or fruiting bodies. It is not a taxon by itself but part of a species name; the precise meaning depends on the genus and the original description. Because Latin adjectives are reused across kingdoms, the form can appear in plants, fungi, or other groups that exhibit a berry-like morphology.

Current taxonomic databases do not list Cocciferum as a widely recognized genus. When encountered in literature, cocciferum appears as the specific epithet within a binomial name and should be interpreted within the context provided by the cited taxon description. For accurate identification, researchers should consult the original publication and any subsequent revisions.

See also: Latin in biological nomenclature; epithets and suffixes; coccus-related terms.