vriesii

Vriesii is a Latinized specific epithet used in the scientific names of many species. It is not a taxon on its own but the second part of a binomial name, following the genus. The form vriesii indicates a patronym, typically honoring a person with the surname Vries or de Vriese.

The epithet is commonly found in botanical names, where many species across various genera bear the appellation vriesii, reflecting historical practice of commemorating scientists and contributors to natural history. It also appears in zoological and other biological names, illustrating the broad use of patronymic epithets in taxonomy. The exact individual honored by a vriesii epithet can vary between groups and historical sources, and the specific person intended is not always explicit in the name alone.

In nomenclatural practice, the epithet is written in lowercase and is usually italicized along with the genus in formal writing. It is treated as a fixed, invariant element of the species name, changing only if the genus changes through taxonomic revision. The use of vriesii underscores the historical habit of commemorating researchers who contributed to the discovery or description of a species.

Because vriesii occurs across diverse taxa, it does not convey any information about biology, ecology, or appearance beyond the implicit tribute embedded in the name. To identify a particular species, the full binomial (genus and vriesii) must be consulted.