Sensu

Sensu is a Latin term meaning "in the sense of". It is used in biology as part of phrases such as sensu stricto or stricto sensu ("in the stricter sense") and sensu lato or lato senso ("in the wider sense").

Rarely, the superlatives sensu strictissimo ("in the strictest sense") and sensu latissimo ("in the widest sense"). Another common usage is in conjuction with an author citation, indicating that the intended meaning is the one defined by the author.

In taxonomy, sensu is used to specify which circumscription of a given taxon is meant, where more than one circumscription is defined.

Examples

 * The Malvaceae sensu stricto is cladistically monophyletic


 * In the broader APG circumscription of the Malvaceae sensu lato includes Malvaceae sensu stricto and also the Bombaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Tiliaceae families.


 * "Banksia subgenus Banksia sensu A.S.George

This specifies Alex George's circumscription of Banksia subg. Banksia.