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Guttatus

/gut-AH-tus/
🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate

Also known as: guttata, guttatum

A color and marking epithet describing a plant surface marked with small spots or dots — like drops of color scattered over a paler ground. Related to maculatus (blotched) but implying smaller, more regular, drop-like markings. Appears as guttatus (masculine), guttata (feminine), or guttatum (neuter).

Etymology

From Latin guttatus, meaning "spotted" or "drop-marked," from gutta (a drop).

Example

Mimulus guttatus (yellow monkeyflower) and Erythronium guttatum both have the characteristic small, regular spots on their petals — precisely the drop-like markings the epithet describes.