lipidica

Lipidica is a Latin feminine adjective meaning related to lipids or containing lipids. In scientific terminology, the epithet lipidica is used in the binomial names of various species to indicate a connection with lipids, such as lipid-rich tissues, lipid metabolism, or lipid biosynthesis. The form reflects Latin grammar and is the feminine counterpart to lipidicus, used to agree with the gender of the genus name.

In taxonomy, lipidica appears across different groups of organisms, including plants, fungi, bacteria, and animals. It is not tied to a single lineage or rank; rather, it is selected by a taxonomist to reflect a notable trait observed in the organism. This trait is often related to lipids, such as storage lipids, waxes, or lipid-metabolizing processes. Because Latin adjectives are applied variably, the exact implication of lipidica can differ between named species.

Beyond formal nomenclature, lipidica may also occur in older biochemical or pharmacological texts to describe lipid-like substances or lipid-containing fractions. In contemporary usage, more precise terminology such as lipid content, lipidomics, or lipophilicity is typically preferred when describing lipids in cells and tissues.

See also: Lipid, Lipids, Lipidomics, Lipophilic, Adipose tissue.