Patens
/PAH-tenz/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
A habit or flower epithet meaning the plant, or its flowers, leaves, or branches, spreads outward horizontally in an open, spreading manner. It implies an open, outward-facing posture rather than drooping (nutans) or upright (erectus). From the present participle of the Latin verb to spread open.
Etymology
From Latin patens, present participle of patere, meaning "to lie open" or "to spread out."
Example
“Cotoneaster horizontalis and Chaenomeles speciosa 'Patens' both have the characteristic outward-spreading, open branch structure the epithet describes — branches reaching wide rather than arching upward or downward.”