hamiltoniana

Hamiltoniana is a Latinized specific epithet used in the binomial nomenclature of living organisms. It is commonly employed to honor individuals with the surname Hamilton, though the specific person being commemorated is not indicated in the epithet itself. The form hamiltoniana is the feminine singular in Latin, so it is typically paired with feminine genus names; male or neuter forms (hamiltonianus, hamiltonianum) may be used when the genus requires them.

In practice, hamiltoniana appears across a range of taxa in botany, zoology, and mycology, wherever a species author chooses to honor someone named Hamilton. There is no single type specimen or taxon associated with the name; rather, many distinct species in different genera may bear this epithet. The choice of epithet is governed by the relevant code of nomenclature: the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) for plants, and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) for animals.

Because the epithet is relatively common, each hamiltoniana-bearing species derives its own history from its original description, including who the honoree was and why they were honored. Researchers seeking information about a specific hamiltoniana should consult the original taxonomic publication and the relevant databases (such as IPNI, ZooBank, or GBIF) to identify the exact taxon and honoree.

See also: List of Latin adjectives used in botanical nomenclature; Eponym in taxonomy.