griseus

Griseus is a Latin adjective meaning gray or grayish. In biological nomenclature, griseus appears as a species epithet to describe gray coloration or a grayish pattern on an organism. The form must agree in gender with the genus name: griseus for masculine genera, grisea for feminine, and griseum for neuter. As a descriptive epithet, it is widely used across plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms, reflecting a visual trait rather than taxonomy or geography. The epithet is typically chosen by the author who first describes the species and remains part of the official binomial under the relevant nomenclatural codes (botanical and zoological). In practice, griseus can refer to fur, plumage, scales, leaves, or other tissues with a gray coloration, sometimes with a bluish, ashy, or dull tinge. In modern taxonomy, more precise color descriptors may replace or accompany griseus, but the epithet remains common in historical, regional, or broad accounts. The use of Latin adjectives like griseus illustrates how color terminology shapes scientific naming conventions and supports descriptive taxonomy. See also: binomial nomenclature; Latin grammar; color descriptors in taxonomy.