lewisii

lewisii is a Latin specific epithet used in biological nomenclature to honor individuals bearing the surname Lewis. In taxonomy, the suffix -ii (and in some cases -iae for a female honoree) signals that the species was named after a person named Lewis. The epithet is widely used across plant and animal genera, and its application is not limited to a single individual.

Notable plant examples include Penstemon lewisii, commonly known as Lewis's penstemon, a perennial native to the western United States and western Canada. It is valued for its tubular blue to violet flowers and its role in supporting pollinators. Another well-known example is Lupinus lewisii, or Lewis's lupine, a wildflower of western North America with showy spires and palmate leaves, frequently found in meadows and open slopes.

In addition to plants, the epithet lewisii appears in the names of other taxa, reflecting the broader convention of honoring explorers, scientists, or patrons in species naming. The exact person commemorated by a given lewisii epithet can vary, and the historical context is typically noted in taxonomic literature or species descriptions. When encountering a species name ending in lewisii, it denotes an association with a Lewis who was deemed worthy of honor by the describer.