rubricum

Rubricum is a Latin term primarily functioning as the neuter singular form of an adjective related to color, derived from ruber, meaning red or reddish. In classical Latin, rubricum would be used to modify neuter nouns and convey a color or characteristic related to red. In modern contexts, the word appears mainly in linguistic and historical discussions of Latin grammar and in the practice of scientific nomenclature where Latin descriptors describe features such as color.

In taxonomy, rubricum has been used as a species or subspecies epithet to indicate red coloration in plants, fungi, or animals. As an epithet, rubricum does not constitute a taxonomic rank by itself; rather, it is part of a binomial or trinomial name that signals a reddish attribute of the organism. Because Latin adjectives agree with the gender and number of the genus, the exact form of the epithet may vary (for neuter nouns rubricum is appropriate, while other genders would use rubrica or rubricus).

Historically, the word is related to rubric, which denotes red text or headings in manuscripts (rubricae). Although rubricum itself is not commonly used as a standalone term in contemporary scientific or liturgical writing, it appears in discussions tracing the development of Latin color terminology and in the study of historical abbreviations and color descriptions in texts.

See also: rubric, rubrica, ruber.