A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

molluscus,-a,-um (adj.): soft [> L. molluscus,-a,-um (adj.A), ‘soft;’ > L. mollis,-e (adj.B) ‘soft;’ also:

Mollusca,-ae (s.f.I): a kind of soft nut with a thin shell; nux, gen.sg. nucis s.f.III) mollusca.

Molluscum,-i (s.n.II), abl. sg. molusco: a fungus that grows on the maple-tree (Lewis & Short]).

NOTE: in Gk. malakos,-E-on (adj.) = L. mollis,-e (adj.B), ‘soft;’ also soft, gentle, mild.

- [fungus] substantia enim fungi initiali mollusca ima petente, ac circa arbusculae ramificationes haerente, truncus arbusti (filum nimirum crassius simplex supra descriptum) denudatus petiolum quendam stipitemve sistit (S&A), for with the initial soft substance [i.e. tissue] of the fungus, seeking the deepest parts, and sticking fast [i.e. adhering] around the places where the branches arise [i.e. the branching] of the small tree, the trunk of the shrub, after having been denuded (the [initial] filament, of course being thicker than simple [i.e. unbranched] as described above) represents a kind of petiole or stipe.

- [Sphagnum molluscum Bruch; moss] laxe cespitosum elatum gracillimum molluscum, amoene flavidum, ramis remotis tenuibus parce geminatis laxe foliosis subdeflexis flaccidis curviusculis (C. Mueller), loosely caesitose [i.e. matted, bedded] elevated, very slender, soft, pleasantly yellowish, with the branches remote [i.e. distant], thin, moderately paired, sparsely leaved, slightly deflexed, flaccid, somewhat curved.

- [Sphagnum molluscum Bruch; moss] planta speciosissima elegantissima caulibus molluscis amoene flavescentibus et theca rufo-purpurea sporis sulphureis primo intuitu distinctissima! (C. Muell.), a very striking plant, very elegant, highly distinctive at first sight! by the soft stems pleasantly yellowish and with the theca reddish-purple with the spores sulphur-yellow.

- [Sphagnum] primo adspectu Hypn. uncinatum imo et molluscum referens sterile, interdum tamen praesertim in umbrosis virgulteis aliisque locis ejus perfectiori evolutioni magis faventibus ad formam normalem redux et fructificans (C. Muell.), at first sight, yes indeed, recalling sterile Hypnum uncinatum and [Sph. molluscum], sometimes, however, especially in shady, shrubby and other places more lending itself to a more complete development, recalling the normal shape and fruiting.

- [Sphagnum] primo intuitu caulibus rigidiusculis molluscoideis, valde patulo-foliosis et ramis comalibus valde fructiferis (C. Muell.), at first sight with stems somewhat more rigid, resembling [Sph. molluscum], very patulous-foliose and with the comal branches strongly fructiferous.

- [Sphagnum ericetorum] species ex habitu inter Sph cymbifolium, ob ramos crassos robustos et Sph. molluscum, ob ramos molluscos flavescentes, ponenda (C. Muell.), the species to be places according to the habit, between Sph. cymbifolium, due to the thick, strong branches and Sph. molluscum, due to the soft, yellowish branches.

Phyllum [Animalia] Mollusca, a phylum of animals with soft, unsegmented bodies “Lacking segmented appendages and commonly protected by a calcareous shell …” (WIII).

NOTE: Sphagnum molluscoides C. Muell., ‘resembling Sphagnum molluscum.’

Boletus molluscus Pers. (= Poria; Fibuloporia; Trechispora mollusca).

Ctenidium molluscum, a pleurocarpous moss with a soft appearance; Hypnum molluscum; cf. Gk. (of Aristotle) Ta malaka, “soft things.”