Browsing: williamsii

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Epithet: williamsii
Derivation: Honors a person named Williams. In the case of Lophophora williamsii, it remains unclear which Williams the author was referring to. Theodor Rümpler claimed in Carl Friedrich Förster's "Handbuch der Cacteenkunde (1885) that the specific epithet honors C.H. Williams, who was said to have traveled in Bahia, Brazil. David Hunt later added in "The New Cactus Lexicon (2006)" that C.H. Williams served as a British ambassador to Bahia. However, it seems more likely that the "Williams" in question may have been Theodore Williams (1785 -1875), an avid cactus collector and vicar of Hendon in North London. He maintained a large garden in Middlesex known for its extensive collection of cacti. Some sources also suggest that the name might honor J.W. Williams, a botanist in the United States.
Pronunciation: wil-YUMS-ee-eye

While the generic name must be unique, two or more genera often share the same specific epithet. Moreover, the same epithet can be used for subspecies, varieties, and forms within a species. Here is a list of plants that share this epithet.