obstinata

Obstinata is a Latin feminine form of the adjective obstinatus, meaning stubborn or obstinate. In biological nomenclature, obstinata can serve as a specific epithet in the binomial name of an organism. The form reflects the gender of the genus with which it is combined; masculine and neuter forms would be obstinatus and obstinatum, respectively.

Etymology and grammatical notes

The root obstinatus derives from Latin obstare, “to stand against,” conveying a sense of persistence or tenacity. In taxonomy, adjectives used as epithets must agree in gender with the genus name. Therefore obstinata is appropriate for feminine genera or feminine nouns within a genus name, while other gendered variants are used for other genera.

Taxonomic usage

Obstinata is not a standalone taxon but a descriptive element in species names. Descriptive epithets are chosen by the taxonomist describing the species and may refer to a perceived trait, habit, locality, or other characteristics. The exact reasoning for selecting obstinata is not standardized and can vary between describers.

Nomenclatural considerations

As with all Latin epithets, obstinata must conform to the rules of the relevant nomenclatural code (the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, or the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature). The form may appear in historical or contemporary names, but it does not denote a separate taxonomic category on its own.

See also

Latin grammar in biological nomenclature; taxonomic epithets; ICZN; ICNafp.