Canescens
/ka-NES-enz/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
A color and texture epithet describing a plant surface that appears grayish or white due to a covering of fine, pale hairs — the surface is "whitening" or "turning gray." The present participle form implies this is an inherent, permanent characteristic rather than a temporary state. Appears as canescens (both genders).
Etymology
From Latin canescens, present participle of canescere, meaning "to become white" or "to become gray," from canus (white, hoary, gray).
Example
“Artemisia canescens and Phlomis canescens both have the characteristic grayish, hoary appearance given by a fine covering of white hairs that the epithet — literally "going gray" — so aptly captures.”