subulata

Subulata is a Latin botanical epithet used in the scientific names of plants to denote awl-shaped leaves—that is, leaves that are narrow, linear, and taper to a fine point. The form is derived from subula, meaning awl, with the feminine suffix -ata; masculine and neuter forms are subulatus and subulatum, respectively. In botanical descriptions, subulata signals a subulate leaf morphology and is common across a range of plant groups, especially among monocots and herbaceous perennials.

In taxonomic practice, subulata functions as a descriptive epithet rather than a genus name. It appears in species names across diverse families, often alongside other descriptors. The epithet provides a quick reference to a characteristic leaf shape, aiding comparison among related taxa.

A notable example is Utricularia subulata, the slender bladderwort, an aquatic carnivorous plant. This species exhibits slender, simple leaves and relies on underwater bladder traps to capture small aquatic prey. The use of subulata in its name signals the presence of subulate-like leaf features within the plant’s overall morphology.

Related terms include subulate leaves and subulate morphology, which describe similarly narrow, awl-shaped structures in various plant parts. The epithet subulata is one of several Latin descriptors commonly encountered in botanical nomenclature to convey essential morphological attributes in a concise form.