complanatum

Complanatum is a Latin neuter adjective used as a species epithet in scientific names across multiple biological groups. The term derives from complanatus, meaning flattened or level, and is typically used to describe a characteristic feature of a species.

In binomial nomenclature, complanatum is the neuter form of the adjective; the feminine and masculine forms are complanata and complanatus, respectively, and they agree with the gender of the genus name. The epithet itself does not identify a single taxon, but rather indicates a morphological trait that may be present in many different organisms.

The epithet commonly signals a flattened, plane, or compressed feature. This can refer to parts such as leaves, fruits, thalli, shells, or other structures that appear flattened or plate-like. Because it denotes a descriptive characteristic rather than a taxonomic rank, complanatum appears in diverse taxa, including plants, fungi, algae, lichens, and some animals.

Usage and interpretation should consider the full taxonomic name and author citation, since the epithet alone does not provide a definitive identification. The repeated use of complanatum across unrelated groups reflects its descriptive nature rather than any single lineage.

See also: Latin binomial nomenclature, taxonomic adjectives, and species epithets.