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Australis

/aw-STRAH-lis/
🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate

Also known as: australe

A geographic epithet meaning the plant is from southern regions. Despite the modern association with Australia, the epithet predates the continent's botanical exploration and simply means "southern" in Latin. It contrasts with borealis (northern). Appears as australis (both genders).

Etymology

From Latin australis, meaning "southern," from Auster (the south wind, the south).

Example

Cordyline australis (cabbage tree) from New Zealand and Phragmites australis (common reed), found across southern latitudes worldwide, both carry this southern epithet.

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