List of plant genera named for people (Q–Z)

This is a list of plant genera named in honor of, or to commemorate, specific individuals (eponymous botanical nomenclature). These names are given according to the rules established by the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN). This listing encompasses genera with names beginning with the letters Q through Z.

Q

• Quesnelia: Named for French Consul Gaetan Quesnel.

• Quisqualis: The etymology is obscure and uncertain but may derive from "quisqual," a Philippine word.

R

• Rafinesquia: Named for Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, a 19th-century polymath.
• Raoulia: Named for French naval surgeon Etienne Fiacre Louis Raoul.
• Reevesia: Named for John Reeves, a British tea inspector and naturalist in China.
• Richardia: Named for French botanist Louis Claude Marie Richard.
• Riedelia: Named for German botanist Wilhelm Riedel.
• Roemeria: Named for Johann Jakob Römer, a Swiss physician and botanist.
• Rosa: The genus name has ancient origins and is not named for a specific person. It is derived from the Latin word for rose.
• Rothmannia: Named for Göran Rothman, a Swedish physician and botanist.
• Rudbeckia: Named for Olof Rudbeck the Younger, a Swedish botanist.

S

• Sabatia: Named for Italian botanist Liberato Sabbati.
• Sachsia: Named for Julius von Sachs, a German botanist.
• Salix: The genus name is the classical Latin name for willow, and is not named for a specific person.
• Salvia: The genus name is derived from the Latin "salvere," meaning "to heal," and is not named for a specific person.
• Sanchezia: Named for José Sanchez, a Spanish botanist.
• Sandersonia: Named for John Sanderson, a Scottish merchant and botanist in South Africa.
• Sarcococca: Name possibly derived from Greek, referring to the fleshy berries, and not named for a specific person.
• Schizanthus: Name derived from Greek referring to divided flowers and not named for a specific person.
• Schefflera: Named for Johann Christoph Scheffler, a German botanist.
• Schlumbergera: Named for Frédéric Schlumberger, a French cactus collector.
• Schotia: Named for Richard van der Schot, a Dutch horticulturist.
• Scoliopus: Name derived from Greek meaning hooked foot and not named for a specific person.
• Sebastiania: Named for Italian botanist Antonio Sebastiani.
• Securidaca: Possible origin from "securis," meaning axe, and refers to the shape of the pod. Not named for a specific person.
• Senecio: Derived from Latin "senex" meaning old man, referring to the white pappus, and not named for a specific person.
• Serjania: Named for Paul Serjeant, a French Capuchin monk and botanist.
• Sesleria: Named for Leonardo Sesler, an Italian physician and botanist.
• Sigesbeckia: Named for Johann Georg Siegesbeck, a German botanist.
• Sloanea: Named for Sir Hans Sloane, a British physician and collector.
• Solandra: Named for Daniel Carl Solander, a Swedish botanist.
• Sonerila: Name derived from a local name in Bengal, India and not named for a specific person.
• Sowerbaea: Named for James Sowerby, an English naturalist and illustrator.
• Sprekelia: Named for Johann Heinrich von Sprekelsen, a German botanist.
• Stachys: Derived from Greek for "ear of grain", and not named after a specific person.
• Strelitzia: Named for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen consort of King George III.
• Strobilanthes: The name is from Greek origins referring to the cone-like flower spikes, and not from a specific person.
• Swainsona: Named for Isaac Swainson, an English botanist.
• Swertia: Named for Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish scientist and philosopher.
• Syringa: The name is derived from the Greek word "syrinx," meaning pipe or tube, referring to the hollow stems, and not named after a person.

T

• Tacitus: Named for Roman historian Cornelius Tacitus.
• Tamarindus: Arabic name for tamarind, and not named for a specific person.
• Thunbergia: Named for Carl Peter Thunberg, a Swedish botanist.
• Tiarella: Diminutive of "tiara" because of the shape of the seed capsule and not named after a person.
• Tillandsia: Named for Elias Tillands, a Finnish botanist.
• Torreya: Named for John Torrey, an American botanist.
• Tradescantia: Named for John Tradescant the Elder and John Tradescant the Younger, English naturalists.
• Trillium: Name possibly derived from "tri-" because of the 3-part flower and not named for a specific person.
• Tulipa: Derived from the Persian word for turban, from resemblance of the flower and not named for a specific person.

U

• Uebelmannia: Named for Swiss cactus enthusiast Werner Uebelmann.
• Ulex: Classical Latin name for gorse and not named for a specific person.

V

• Valeriana: Origin is possibly from Latin for "healthy", and not named for a specific person.
• Vallisneria: Named for Italian botanist Antonio Vallisneri.
• Verbascum: Name possibly derived from "barbascum", meaning beard, referring to the hairy leaves and not named for a specific person.
• Verbena: Classical Latin name for the plant, and not named for a specific person.
• Veronica: Possibly named for Saint Veronica, and not necessarily for a botanist.
• Viburnum: Classical Latin name for the plant, and not named for a specific person.
• Victoria: Named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
• Vriesea: Named for Willem Hendrik de Vriese, a Dutch botanist.

W

• Wallichia: Named for Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish surgeon and botanist.
• Wardia: Named for Francis Kingdon-Ward, a British botanist and plant hunter.
• Washingtonia: Named for George Washington, first President of the United States.
• Welfia: Named for Hubert Welf, prince of Bavaria.
• Wendlandia: Named for Johann Christoph Wendland, a German botanist.
• Wisteria: Named for Caspar Wistar, an American physician and anatomist.
• Wolffia: Named for Johann Friedrich Wolff, a German physician and botanist.

X

• Xanthoceras: The name combines "xanthos" and "keras" from Greek for yellow horn, and not named after a person.
• Xylosma: The name is derived from Greek meaning "sour wood", and not named after a person.

Y

• Yucca: Name derived from Carib word for the plant and not named for a specific person.

Z

• Zantedeschia: Named for Giovanni Zantedeschi, an Italian botanist and physician.
• Zauschneria: Named for Johann Baptist Zauschner, a Bohemian professor of medicine and botany.
• Zinnia: Named for Johann Gottfried Zinn, a German botanist and physician.
• Zizania: Name from Greek meaning "weed", but not named for a person.
• Zygopetalum: Name from Greek meaning "yoked petals" referring to the joined petals and sepals, and not named for a person.