violaceus

Violaceus is a Latin adjective meaning violet-colored or purple. In scientific nomenclature it is widely used as a descriptive epithet in species names to indicate that the organism exhibits violet or purplish coloration.

The epithet has gendered forms to match the genus: violaceus (masculine), violacea (feminine), and violaceum (neuter). When combined with a genus name, the form is chosen to agree with the grammatical gender of that genus, a common practice in botanical and zoological naming.

In color usage, violaceus denotes a purplish hue that sits between blue-violet and reddish-purple. The exact shade can vary depending on context, description, and the pigments involved. As a descriptive term, it does not specify a standardized color value, but it signals the presence of a violet coloration.

Because violaceus is a descriptive epithet rather than a standalone taxon, there is no single species named simply “violaceus.” Instead, many distinct species across plants, animals, and fungi may bear the epithet within their full scientific names. The term is part of a broader set of Latin color descriptors used in taxonomy, often alongside related forms such as violacea and violaceum, to reflect coloration observed in the organism. See also violaceous, a closely related color term used in common descriptive language.