A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

tepescens,-entis (part.B): becoming warm [> L. tepesco,-pui, 3. “to become moderately warm, lukewarm, or tepid: to grow warm; also to grow cool from a hot state; to cool off, decrease in ardir (after Lewis & Short); > tepeo,-ere, 2. to be tepid, lukewarm];

- [moss] frigore ingruente, omniumque vegetabilium fibris rigentibus muscum nullum florere extra dubium est; sed simul ac aura tepescere, fauoniorum habitu hyems solui, et nives colliquescere incipiunt, plerique musci florere properant (Brid.), when the cold is coming on, and when the fibers of all plants are hardened [i.e. rigid with the cold; then it is beyond doubt that no moss is flowering; but as soon as the air becomes warm, in accordance with the nature of the [west or spring winds], winter begins to be set free, and the snows begin to melt, most [i.e. the greater part of the] mosses] quickly prepare to flower.