Oppositus
/op-oh-SY-tus/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
Also known as: opposita, oppositum
A morphological epithet describing the opposite leaf arrangement — two leaves arising at each node, one on each side of the stem, directly facing each other. Opposite-leaved plants are easily distinguished from alternate or whorled arrangements. Appears as oppositus (masculine), opposita (feminine), or oppositum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin oppositus, past participle of opponere (to place against or opposite), from ob- (against) + ponere (to place).
Example
“Most members of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and the figwort family have the opposite leaf arrangement the epithet records — pairs of leaves facing each other at every node, immediately visible as a family characteristic.”