Pilosus
/py-LOH-sus/🏷️ Taxonomy●●● Advanced
Also known as: pilosa, pilosum
A texture epithet describing a surface covered in long, soft, loosely spreading hairs — longer and more open than pubescens (short, fine down) but not as matted or dense as tomentosus. The texture feels soft and somewhat shaggy. Appears as pilosus (masculine), pilosa (feminine), or pilosum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin pilosus, meaning "hairy" or "covered with hair," from pilus (a hair).
Example
“Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), sometimes described as pilosa in older texts, and Arabis pilosa both have the loosely hairy stems and leaves the epithet indicates.”