Laevis
/LEE-vis/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
Also known as: laeve
A texture epithet describing a surface that is smooth and even — often specifically meaning smooth in the sense of lacking the roughness of asper or scaber, or the hairiness of pubescens. It is the positive statement of smoothness, as glaber is the statement of hairlessness. Appears as laevis (both genders).
Etymology
From Latin laevis, meaning "smooth," "sleek," or "slippery."
Example
“Cotoneaster laevigatus and Quercus laevigata both have the characteristically smooth, even surfaces — leaves that feel sleek and polished rather than rough or hairy — the epithet describes.”