floccose

Floccose is an adjective used in medicine, biology, and related fields to describe a texture or appearance that is fluffy, woolly, or cotton-like. The term derives from the Latin floccus, meaning a tuft of wool. In pathology and histology, floccose may be used to describe tissue or deposits that have a soft, tufted, or woolly surface or consistency, often indicating friability or particular forms of degeneration or deposition. For example, a lesion or material may be described as floccose when it breaks apart easily into fine, cottony fragments.

In microbiology and mycology, floccose refers to the colony morphology of some organisms that grow with a woolly or cottony surface rather than smooth or granular textures. The description contrasts with other textures such as powdery, cottony (in some contexts), or mucoid, and provides a qualitative sense of both appearance and consistency. The term is typically used as a descriptive qualifier in observations of culture growth or microscopic specimens.

In practical use, floccose helps clinicians and scientists communicate observations of gross pathology, histological sections, and culture characteristics. As with other descriptive adjectives, its precise meaning can vary by context, so it is often accompanied by additional qualifiers or measurements in formal reports.

Related terms include flocculent and cottony, which similarly describe fluffy or tufted appearances, though with nuanced distinctions in specific disciplines.