Atrovirens
/at-roh-VY-renz/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
A color epithet combining ater (dark) with virens (green) to describe an exceptionally deep, rich, dark green — darker than the standard viridis and often applied to evergreen conifers and glossy-leaved shrubs whose foliage has an unusually deep, almost blackish-green hue. Appears as atrovirens (both genders).
Etymology
From Latin ater (dark, black) + virens, present participle of virere (to be green), meaning "darkly green."
Example
“Taxus baccata 'Atrovirens' and various dark-leaved hollies carry this epithet for the deep, near-black-green of their foliage — a tone that intensifies in winter and provides the richest possible dark backdrop for other plants.”