multifida

Multifida is not a single taxon but a Latin epithet used in the scientific names of many species across different genera to describe a characteristic, typically a structure that is deeply divided or has many lobes. The term derives from multifidus, meaning many-cleft or split.

In taxonomy, multifida is commonly employed in botany, zoology, mycology, and related fields to flag morphology rather than imply a close evolutionary relationship. The epithet may describe leaves that are lobed or pinnatifid, petals or sepals that are frilled or cleft, or other features with multiple divisions. Because it is a descriptive adjective rather than a taxonomic rank, multifida appears in combination with various genus names.

As a result, there is no organism universally recognized as simply “Multifida.” Rather, the word accompanies the genus to form a binomial name, and the broader classification depends on the genus rather than the epithet. The same epithet can occur in many unrelated lineages, reflecting convergence on a similar morphological trait rather than shared ancestry.

For precise identification, a binomial name containing multifida must be read in full, with attention to the genus and the higher-level taxonomy it belongs to. The usage and interpretation of the epithet can vary across groups and authors, underscoring the descriptive rather than diagnostic nature of multifida in scientific naming.