triloba

Triloba is a descriptive term used in biology to denote a structure that has three lobes or three distinct lobed parts. The word derives from Latin tri- meaning three and lobus meaning lobe. It is primarily a morphological descriptor rather than a formal taxonomic name, and its usage spans several biological disciplines.

In botany, triloba or trilobate describes leaves, petals, fruits, or other plant structures that are divided into three lobes. The lobes can be shallow or deeply incised and may be arranged palmately (radiating from a central point) or basally. This three-lobed condition appears across many plant groups and is commonly noted in botanical descriptions, keys, and cultivar naming to differentiate forms.

In zoology and anatomy, trilobal or trilobate references may describe organs or external structures with three lobes. The descriptor remains descriptive, used to convey shape and organization rather than to define a taxonomic category. The term is part of a broader set of lobed descriptors, which also includes bilobate (two lobes) and multilinear or pinnate forms in other contexts.

In some cases, triloba may appear as a Latin epithet within a species description to indicate three-lobed morphology. However, there is no universal taxonomic group known as “Triloba” on its own, and the term is typically used for descriptive purposes rather than to designate a distinct lineage. See also trilobed and trilobite for related concepts of three-lobed morphology.