Arachnoideus
/a-rak-NOY-dee-us/🏷️ Taxonomy●●● Advanced
Also known as: arachnoidea, arachnoideum
A morphological epithet describing either a spider-like form (spreading segments resembling legs) or, more commonly, a surface covered in fine, tangled white hairs that give the plant a cobweb-draped appearance. The latter is one of the most visually striking of all surface textures in alpine plants. Appears as arachnoideus (masculine), arachnoidea (feminine), or arachnoideum (neuter).
Etymology
From Greek arachne (spider, cobweb) + -oides (resembling), via Latin arachnoideus.
Example
“Sempervivum arachnoideum (cobweb houseleek) is the most celebrated example — its rosettes draped in a dense network of white hairs stretching between the leaf tips like fine spun silk.”