Melananthus
/mel-a-NAN-thus/🏷️ Taxonomy●●● Advanced
Also known as: melanantha, melananthum
A Greek-derived compound epithet meaning black-flowered — describing flowers so deeply pigmented they appear black or near-black. True black is vanishingly rare in the plant world, so this epithet is applied to the very darkest purple-black blooms. Appears as melananthus (masculine), melanantha (feminine), or melananthum (neuter).
Etymology
From Greek melanos (black, dark) + anthos (flower), meaning "black-flowered."
Example
“Lathyrus melananthus and darkest Viola selections described as melanantha both approach the dramatic near-black flower color this compound epithet promises — flowers so deeply pigmented they absorb light rather than reflecting it.”