japonica
/ja-PON-ih-kuh/🏷️ Taxonomy● Basic
Also known as: japonicus, japonicum
A geographic epithet marking a plant native to Japan, or first described from Japanese material, and the feminine form used where the genus is feminine. It records origin rather than appearance, so it says nothing about how the plant looks. Appears as japonicus (masculine), japonica (feminine), or japonicum (neuter).
Etymology
From modern Latin japonica, adjectival form of Japonia (Japan).
Example
“Camellia japonica (Japanese camellia) and Ardisia japonica (marlberry) both take the feminine ending to agree with their genera.”