Candolleana

Candolleana is a botanical epithet used in the scientific names of plants to honor the Candolle family, notably the Swiss botanists Augustin Pyramus de Candolle and his son Alphonse. The form candolleana is a Latinized feminine ending that aligns with the gender of the genus name in which it is used. In botanical nomenclature, epithet endings vary to reflect gender, with candolleana representing the feminine form; masculine and neuter equivalents would be candolleanus and candolleanum, respectively.

The epithet candolleana is not a standalone genus. Instead, it appears as the second part of a binomial (the species epithet) in many different genera. It has been applied across diverse plant groups as a tribute to Candolle’s contributions to taxonomy, classification, and floras. Because it is a patronymic epithet, its exact meaning remains constant—“of Candolle” or “Candolle’s”—while the full species name will refer to a particular genus and species.

Usage and conventions are governed by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. The choice of candolleana, candolleanus, or candolleanum depends on the grammatical gender of the genus name in which the species is placed. As a common epithet, candolleana appears in many historical and contemporary plant names, reflecting ongoing recognition of Candolle’s impact on botany.

See also: botanical nomenclature, eponymy in science, Candolle family.