viridissima

Viridissima is a Latin feminine superlative adjective meaning "very green" or "greenest." In biological nomenclature it is commonly used as a species epithet, forming part of the binomial name of a species. The form agrees with the gender of the genus, with viridissimus for masculine, viridissima for feminine, and viridissimum for neuter.

The epithet conveys color or habit associated with green foliage or habitats, and it is used across plants and, less commonly, animals. In botanical names, viridissima is encountered more frequently than in zoological ones, reflecting the descriptive emphasis in plant taxonomy. One established example is Euphorbia viridissima, the green spurge, named for its greenish appearance.

Viridissima is not a taxonomic rank and does not refer to a single lineage; rather it is a descriptive epithet that may be applied to many distinct species across genera. Its usage highlights how classical Latin provides a shared, descriptive language for taxonomy.

Related epithets include viridis (green) and viridissimus and viridissima forms used to match genus gender, illustrating the broader practice of gender agreement in Latin names.