orellanus

Orellanus is a Latin adjectival form used in scientific names rather than a standalone taxon. It appears as a species epithet in various organisms to indicate origin, association, or homage related to a person or place linked to the name Orell or Orellana, depending on the taxon. As with other -anus epithets, its meaning is context dependent and it does not designate a single, unified group.

A well-known use of the epithet is in Cortinarius orellanus, a poisonous mushroom in the family Cortinariaceae. This species is noted for producing the toxin orellanine, which can cause severe kidney damage. The epithet orellanus in this case helps distinguish the specific toxic species within the genus Cortinarius.

In taxonomy, the suffix -anus is a common Latin formation that creates adjectives from names or places and is applied across plants, animals, and fungi. The term orellanus thus serves a naming function rather than signaling a formal rank or a discrete biological group. Because it is a descriptive epithet rather than a taxonomic category, its presence and meaning rely on the context of the species name in which it appears.

Overview: Orellanus reflects nomenclatural practice rather than an identifiable genus or clade. Its most prominent association in public health and mycology is tied to Cortinarius orellanus, a species whose toxic properties have been documented in medical and fungal literature.