Thunbergii

Thunbergii is a Latinized species epithet used in the scientific names of various organisms to honor Carl von Thunberg, a Swedish naturalist who lived from 1743 to 1828. In botanical and zoological nomenclature, the ending -ii indicates a masculine genitive form, meaning “of Thunberg.” The epithet is a tribute embedded in many binomials rather than a standalone taxon.

One of the best-known uses is Pinus thunbergii, the Japanese black pine. This evergreen tree is native to coastal Japan and is valued for its hardiness, dark green two-needle fascicles, and broad, irregular crown. It tolerates salt spray and poorer soils and is commonly used in landscaping, windbreaks, and bonsai.

Beyond Pinus thunbergii, thunbergii appears across multiple taxa, including various plants and animals. The specific epithet serves to recognize Thunberg’s contributions to natural history, but it does not by itself convey any shared biological traits among the species that bear it. As with other epithets, the genus name is essential for identifying the organism and understanding its characteristics.

Related topics include the genus Thunbergia, a group of flowering plants named in honor of Thunberg, and the historical figure Carl von Thunberg, whose work influenced the naming of numerous species in herbaria and collections.