glaber

Glaber is a Latin adjective used in biological nomenclature as an epithet in the scientific names of organisms. In many cases it signals a trait described as hairless or smooth, such as a bare skin, leaf, or surface, rather than indicating any taxonomic rank.

Etymology and forms: Glaber comes from Latin glaber, meaning bare, smooth, or bald. The gendered forms glaber (masculine), glabra (feminine), and glabrum (neuter) are chosen to agree with the grammatical gender of the genus or species name.

Usage: The epithet appears across plants, animals, and fungi, often accompanying the genus to describe appearance. The exact trait can vary by organism: it may denote absence of hair or trichomes, a particularly smooth texture, or an unornamented surface. Because it is descriptive rather than taxonomic, multiple unrelated groups may share the epithet in their scientific names.

Relation to other terms: In English-language scientific writing, glaber is commonly translated as glabrous when referring to hairless surfaces. Related derivatives include glabrescent, meaning gradually hairless with age, which share the same root.

See also: Glabrous; Trichome; Botanical Latin; Zoological Latin.