prolifera

Prolifera is a Latin feminine adjective used in biological nomenclature as a species epithet in binomial names. The term derives from prolifer-, from Latin proliferare meaning to multiply; prolifera roughly translates as prolific or proliferating. In taxonomic practice, prolifera does not refer to a distinct taxon; rather it modifies a genus name to form the species name. Because Latin adjectives must agree in gender and number with the genus, prolifera is the feminine form; masculine and neuter forms would be proliferus and proliferum, respectively.

Usage and scope: The epithet prolifera appears across a range of taxa, including plants, animals, fungi, and microorganisms. Its appearance typically signals observed traits such as abundant growth, high reproductive success, prolific fruiting, or rapid colonization noted by the describer, though the specific meaning can vary by organism and context of the original description.

interpretation: As with many descriptive epithets, prolifera conveys a characteristic rather than any independent taxonomic rank. The presence of the epithet invites consultation of the species’ original description to understand the trait that motivated the naming.

See also: Latin in scientific naming, species epithet, taxonomy.