A botanist at San Diego State University has named a new-discovered plant species after a famous guitarist Jimi Hendrix. This rare but endangered succulent plant, native only to Baja California, Mexico, now has official name Dudleya hendrixii.
Mark Dodero, who discovered this species of dudleya genus, said he decided to give the plant this name after he realized he was listening to Hendrix’s song “Voodoo child” at the very moment he found this plant. The plant has thick, succulent leaves and pink and white flowers. The rock legend has now achieved immortality both through his music and this lovely plant.
But this is not the first time that the plant, or living organisms generally, receive scientific name to honor the person. There are a few hundreds of plant and animal species, and other living organisms named after famous people. Lady Gaga even has the entire genus of 17 species named after her.
Top 10 species named after famous people
1. Barack Obama – Aptostichus barackobamai (The Barack Obama trapdoor spider), endemic to California.
2. Hugh Heffner – Sylvilagus palustris hefneri (Lower Keys marsh rabbit), an endangered subspecies of marsh rabbit
3. Greta Garbo – Rostropria garbo, a diapriid wasp.
4. Johnny Depp – Kootenichela deppi, extinct anthropod.
5. Bob Marley – Gnathia marleyi parasite of the Crustacea family, found only in the Caribean sea.
6. Confucius – Potanthus confucius (Chinese dart or Confucian dart) butterfly native to southeastern Asia
7. Mark Knopfler – Masiakasaurus knopfleri, theropod dinosaur
8. Madonna – Echiniscus madonnae, water bear also known as moss piglets
9. Shakira – Aleiodes shakirae, a species of parasitic wasp
10. Theodore Roosevelt – Cervus canadensis roosevelti (Olympic elk)
