elliottiana

Elliottiana is a Latin-derived species epithet used in the scientific names of organisms. In taxonomy, elliottiana is typically used to honor individuals bearing the surname Elliott, most commonly Stephen Elliott (1789–1839), an American botanist who collected and described many North American plants. However, the exact individual honored by a given epithet can vary, and sometimes the form cannot be traced to a single person.

The epithet is most frequently encountered in botanical nomenclature. In botanical names, elliottiana is used as a feminine or neutral form depending on the gender of the genus; it is the feminine form of the name derived from Elliott. The form -iana is common when the genus is feminine, and may appear alongside related epithets such as elliottii or elliottianus in other contexts.

In practice, elliottiana appears in a number of plant names across families as taxonomic epithets, and may be encountered in historical or contemporary literature as part of valid or synonymized names. It is much less common in animals, where patronymic endings such as -i, -ae, or -ii are typically preferred for patronyms.

Nomenclatural notes: epithet formation follows the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) or the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). The exact spelling and gender agreement of elliottiana can vary by genus and publication, and the original species description should be consulted to confirm the honoree and type designation.

See also elliottii, elliottianus, and related patronymic epithets.