spicata

Spicata is a Latin adjective commonly used in biological nomenclature as a species epithet. It derives from spica, meaning spike, and is typically translated as "spiked" or "spike-like." In botanical names, the epithet often signals a spike-shaped feature such as a spicate inflorescence, but its exact referent can vary among species and genera.

In practice, spicata appears in the scientific names of many plant species across different genera. Because Latin adjectives agree with the gender of their noun, spicata is the feminine singular form. The masculine form would be spicatus, and the neuter form spicatum, depending on the genus name with which it is combined.

Usage and interpretation can differ by taxonomic group, and the epithet does not designate a single taxon. Instead, it indicates a morphological trait that inspired the naming. As with many Latin epithets, spicata has a long-standing history in botanical nomenclature and continues to appear in species descriptions across diverse plant lineages.