parkinsonii

Parkinsonii is a Latinized specific epithet used in the scientific names of various organisms to honor individuals with the surname Parkinson. It is not a standalone taxon, but rather part of binomial names in fields such as botany, zoology, mycology, and microbiology. The epithet appears in many different genera, with each species representing a distinct organism.

Etymology and grammatical usage: parkinsonii derives from the surname Parkinson and follows Latin naming conventions for patronyms. The ending indicates the name is a tribute to a person, typically a male honoree. In nomenclature, the gender and number of the honoree influence related endings: parkinsonii for a single male honoree, parkinsoniae for a single female honoree, and parkinsonorum for multiple honorees. Within botanical and zoological codes, epithets are lowercased and combined with the genus to form the full scientific name.

Taxonomic practice: because parkinsonii is a patronymic epithet, there is no single organism designated by the term. Instead, numerous species across different genera may bear the epithet, each representing a different organism. The use of parkinsonii is governed by the relevant International Code of Nomenclature (ICZN for animals, ICN for plants, fungi, and algae), which sets rules for form, priority, and publication. Examples of species with patronymic epithets illustrate naming practices rather than common characteristics, so identifying an organism requires the full genus and species name.

See also: patronyms in scientific names.