imbricata

Imbricata is a Latin adjective used in biological nomenclature as a specific epithet to denote an overlapping, tile-like arrangement. It is the feminine form of imbricatus (masculine) and imbricatum (neuter), and it must agree with the gender of the genus name in binomial nomenclature. The root imbricare means to tile or cover with overlapping elements, such as roof tiles, and imbricate describes structures arranged in overlapping rows.

In practice, imbricata signals a morphological feature rather than a taxonomic relationship. Species bearing the epithet may have imbricated scales on a shell, overlapping leaves, or other similarly arranged structures. Because epithet usage is descriptive, the same or similar appearances may arise independently in unrelated groups, so the epithet does not imply close relatedness.

Usage spans multiple kingdoms, including plants and animals. When naming, adjectives in botanical nomenclature agree with the gender of the genus, and in zoological nomenclature the same agreement rules apply, yielding imbricata for feminine genera, with imbricatus or imbricatum used for masculine or neuter genera, respectively.

See also imbricate, imbrication, and Latin grammar in scientific naming.

Note: imbricata functions as a descriptive epithet within a variety of taxa, rather than designating a single taxon.