Californicus
/kal-ih-FOR-nih-kus/🏷️ Taxonomy● Basic
Also known as: californica, californicum
A geographic epithet indicating the plant is native to California, whose Mediterranean climate and varied topography have created one of the world's most celebrated plant biodiversity hotspots. Many plants carry this epithet as a badge of origin in a flora of global horticultural significance. Appears as californicus (masculine), californica (feminine), or californicum (neuter).
Etymology
From New Latin Californicus, from California (from the name of a fictional island in a 1510 Spanish novel).
Example
“Eschscholzia californica (California poppy), Fremontodendron californicum (flannel bush), and Ceanothus californicus represent the sun-loving, drought-hardy character of the California flora this epithet announces.”