Byssus jolithus

Botanical Latin Translations

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(updated 4 January 2026)

Byssus jolithus L.

Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Byssus jolithus in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 1169 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
today: The current name for this species is Trentepohlia jolithus (L.) Wallr.

original Latin diagnosis
Byssus pulverulenta sangvinia saxis innascens.

English translation
Byssus covered with powder [and] blood-red, [and] on large rocks growing.

English translation with commentary

Byssus Byssus

covered with powder pulverulenta - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective pulverulentus, -a, -um; modifies Byssus

[and] [added for smoother reading]

blood-red, sangvinea [= sanguinea - nominative singular feminine of group A sanguineus, -a, -um; modifies Byssus

[and] [added for smoother reading]

on large rocks saxis - dative plural of second declension neuter noun saxum, -i; object of adnascens

growing. adnascens - nominative singular feminine of present active participle of deponent verb adnascor, adnasci, adnatus; agrees with Byssus

For a list of botanical Latin translations, please click here. To access the Species Plantarum concordance, please click here.

Byssus	Byssus
covered with powder	pulverulenta - nominative singular feminine of group A adjective pulverulentus, -a, -um; modifies Byssus
[and]	[added for smoother reading]
blood-red,	sangvinea [= sanguinea - nominative singular feminine of group A sanguineus, -a, -um; modifies Byssus
[and]	[added for smoother reading]
on large rocks	saxis - dative plural of second declension neuter noun saxum, -i; object of adnascens
growing.	adnascens - nominative singular feminine of present active participle of deponent verb adnascor, adnasci, adnatus; agrees with Byssus