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Capitatus

/kap-ih-TAH-tus/
🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate

Also known as: capitata, capitatum

A floral arrangement epithet describing flowers or other structures arranged in a compact, spherical or flattened head — like a dense button or globe. Plants with this epithet often have the bold, graphic quality of ball-shaped flower clusters. Appears as capitatus (masculine), capitata (feminine), or capitatum (neuter).

Etymology

From Latin capitatus, meaning "having a head," from caput/capitis (head).

Example

Trifolium capitatum (head clover) and various Scabiosa capitata selections produce the characteristic tight, globular flower heads that give this epithet its visual shorthand.