A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

nutans,-antis (part.B): nodding, nutant; “inclining very much from the perpendicular, so that the apex is directed downwards; as the flower of the Snowdrop” [Galanthus nivalis L.]. (Lindley); nutant, nodding (Jackson); nodding (Stearn 1996); nodding, drooping (C&A; Magill) [> L. nuto,-avi,-atum 1. To nod (with the head); to sway to and fro, to totter, shake, stagger; to doubt, hesitate; to be ready to fall or give way; to totter, waver, fail, be weak, falter” (Lewis & Short)];

- [Funaria flavicans] theca non, ut illa pedunculo arcuate, pendula sed in pedunculo stricto nutante primo adspectu facillime distinguitur (C. Muell.), the theca is not, as in that [species, i.e. F. hygrometrica] with an arcuate peduncle [i.e. seta] but nodding on a straight seta it is very easily distinguished at first sight.

- Directio thecae admodum variat, estque nobis maximi in definiendis speciebus momenti. [[the ‘direction’ [i.e. alignment with respect to a straight line] of the theca varies a great deal and is of the greatest importance in defining species.]] Erecta dicitur, si pedunculi directionem verticalem servet, ut in Gymnostomum pyriformi; obliqua vel inclinata, si angulo acuto ab ea linea declinet, ut in Dicrano purpureo, Hypno adunco; nutans, si cum ea angulum rectum metiatur apice ad horizontem converso, ut in Hypno rutabulo, Webera nutante; pendulus [sic] tandem, si ad terram, angulo plus minus aperto apice respiciat, ut in Mniis plerique, Bryo argenteo” (Bridel);

- The direction [i.e. alignment] of the theca is called ‘erect,’ if it should keep the vertical direction [i.e. alignment] of the peduncle [= seta], as in Gymnostomum pyriforme;

- ‘oblique or inclined,’ if [the theca] turns away from this line at an acute angle [between 0 and 90 degrees], as in Dicranum purpureum, Hypnum aduncum;

- ‘nutant’ or ‘nodding, if a right angle [i.e. 90 degrees] is measured with it [i.e. the vertical line], with the apex [of the theca] turned towards the horizon, as in Hypnum rutabulum, Webera nutans;

- finally ‘pendulus’ if [the theca] may look at the ground, at a more or less open angle [i.e. a straight angle of 180 degrees] with the apex.