Asiaticus
/ay-see-AT-ih-kus/🏷️ Taxonomy● Basic
Also known as: asiatica, asiaticum
A geographic epithet indicating a plant native to or first described from Asia. Early botanists applied it broadly across the continent, from the eastern Mediterranean to Japan, so it records origin less precisely than japonicus or chinensis. Appears as asiaticus (masculine), asiatica (feminine), or asiaticum (neuter).
Etymology
From New Latin asiaticus, from Asia + -icus (adjectival suffix meaning "of" or "from"), ultimately from Greek Asia, the name the Romans carried over to their province in western Anatolia.
Example
“Ranunculus asiaticus (Persian buttercup) and Centella asiatica (gotu kola) both carry this broad continental epithet.”