Standishii

Standishii is a Latinized specific epithet used in the scientific names of organisms. It is not a taxon itself, but part of a binomial name that identifies a species within a genus. The epithet standishii is typically derived to honor an individual with the surname Standish, reflecting a long-standing practice in taxonomy of naming species after collectors, sponsors, or colleagues.

The epithet can occur across plant and animal taxa, and the same Latin form may appear in unrelated genera because it is tied to a person rather than to shared biological traits. As a patronymic, standishii appears in diverse lineages, illustrating how the taxonomic naming tradition preserves historical connections within the scientific record.

In botanical nomenclature, standishii is typically treated as a masculine patronym. The formal rules for Latinization and gender agreement are governed by the relevant codes—the ICN for plants and the ICZN for animals—though standishii has become a conventional spelling in many plant names. The use of standishii does not convey morphological, ecological, or behavioral information about the organism; it serves as a historical acknowledgment within the name.

Etymology and usage notes: the base surname is Standish, and the suffix -ii signals a patronymic origin in many Latinized plant and animal names. Some contexts or Codes may employ different endings for a female honoree, but standishii remains a common and widely recognized form in taxonomic literature.

Thus, standishii functions as a linguistic marker in taxonomy, documenting a named homage in the scientific naming tradition rather than indicating any biological characteristic of the species.