Australasicus
/aw-stray-LAY-sih-kus/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
Also known as: australasica, australasicum
A geographic epithet covering the broader Australasian region — Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea, and neighbouring Pacific islands. More geographically precise than australis (which simply means "southern"), it was coined by European botanists to distinguish Australasian flora from other southern-hemisphere plants. Appears as australasicus (masculine), australasica (feminine), or australasicum (neuter).
Etymology
From New Latin Australasia (a coinage combining Australia + Asia) + -icus (of, relating to).
Example
“Pittosporum australasicum and various Acacia australasica selections carry this epithet as a record of their origins in the distinctive flora of the Australasian region.”