A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

superus,-a,-um (adj.A): upper, higher, placed above, above, superior in position; compar.: superior,-ius (adj.B), q.v., (in position) higher, upper; superl.:

1. supremus,-a,-um (adj.A), q.v., highest, uppermost.

2. summus,-a,-um (adj.A) to do

3. [superrimus,-a,-um (adj.A) is not used even in classical period]

opp.: inferus,-a,-um (adj.A), lower, placed below, lower in position; see high, low, tall; see ‘superior,-ius (adj.B)’ for discussion of the ovary;

- labio supero 8 mm longo, labio infero 10-14 mm longo, with the upper lip 8 mm long, the lower lip 10-14 mm long.

- ovarium saepissime superum, the ovary most often superior.

- Ovarium syncarpicum, inferum v. superum (B&H), ovary syncarpic, inferior or superior.

- ovarium 2-6-loculare, inferum semisuperum v. rarius superum (B&H), ovary 2-6-locular, inferior, half-superior or more rarely superior.

- calyx fructifer adnatus subsuperus in Ancistroclado, Anisoptera, et Pachynocarpo. (B&H), fruit-bearing calyx adnate, somewhat superior in Ancistrocladus, Anisoptera, and Pachynocarpus.

- drupa supera, subgloboso-3-loba, drupe superior, subglobos, 3-lobed.

- ovarium saepissime superum (B&H), the ovary most often upper [i.e. superior].

- ovarium saspius superum v. disco immersum. (B&H), the ovary more often above [i.e. superior] or immersed in the disc.

- ovulorum micropyle infera v. rarius supera (B&H), the micropyle lower [i.e. inferior] or more rarely upper [i.e. superior].

- ovulorum micropyle supera in Menispermaceis, pseudo-supera (raphe dorsali) in Ranunculaceis nonnullis (B&H), the micropyle of the ovules upper [i.e. superior] in Menispermaceae, false-superior (with the raphe dorsal) in some Ranunculaceae.

- ovarium syncarpicum, inferum v. superum, calycis tubo inclusum v. exsertum (B&H), the ovary syncarpic, below or above, includded in the tube of the calyx or exserted.

“When we speak of the situation of the germen [i.e. ovary], we must be understood to mean its situation with respect to the calyx, for there may be, instances of the germen beiug encircled by the calyx, and yet being situated below the corolla. It is only in absence of the calyx that the situation is determined by the other parts. Germen superum is also expressed by Flos epicarpius, or Flos superus; and Germen inferum by Flos hypocarpius, or Flos inferus.” (Willdenow).