Alternatus
/al-ter-NAH-tus/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
Also known as: alternata, alternatum
A morphological epithet describing the alternate leaf arrangement — a single leaf at each node, with successive leaves on opposite sides of the stem. Alternate-leaved plants are distinguished from opposite-leaved (oppositus) and whorled (verticillatus) species. Appears as alternatus (masculine), alternata (feminine), or alternatum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin alternatus, past participle of alternare (to alternate), from alternus (every other), from alter (the other).
Example
“The alternate leaf arrangement is one of the most basic identification features in botany — Alternanthera and many flowering plant families defined partly by this characteristic give the epithet its practical taxonomic value.”