Whitneyorum

Whitneyorum is a Latinized species epithet used in biological nomenclature to honor two or more individuals with the surname Whitney. It is used as the second part of a binomial name, attached to a genus to form a species name across various biological groups. As an epithet, whitneyorum itself denotes gratitude toward multiple honorees rather than describing a characteristic of the organism.

Etymology and formation: The suffix -orum is the genitive plural ending in Latin, indicating that the dedication is to two or more people (typically male or a mixed-gender group). If the honorees were all female, a form such as -arum would be used in accordance with Latin grammatical concord. For a single honoree, the epithet would ordinarily take a form such as -i (masculine) or -ae (feminine), with other variants appearing under specific nomenclatural traditions.

Usage and context: The epithet whitneyorum is a commemorative name, not a descriptive term. Its application is governed by the relevant nomenclatural code (the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature for animals, and the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants). The exact ending and construction can vary by code and by the gender composition of the honorees, so researchers consult the appropriate code when formulating or interpreting a name.

Notable usage: Because whitneyorum is a generic epigraphic form rather than a single, widely known taxon name, specific instances are dispersed across taxa and rely on individual taxonomic publications. To locate current valid usages, databases such as ZooBank, IPNI, or Index Fungorum should be consulted.