Epithet (taxonomy)

Look up specific epithet in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

An epithet in taxonomic nomenclature is a word or phrase (epithet) in the name of an organism. It can be:

• a specific epithet:
  • the second part of a species name in binomial nomenclature in any branch of biology
    • in botany, the second part of a botanical name
    • Specific epithet (zoology), also called the specific name, meaning the second part of the species name or binomen
• a genus epithet
• a subgenus epithet
• in botanical nomenclature:
  • a section epithet
  • a series epithet
  • a variety epithet
  • a forma epithet
• in horticulture:
  • a Group epithet, for plants within a species that share characteristics
  • a grex epithet for cultivated orchids, according to their parentage
  • a cultivar epithet