Named for Austrian cactus enthusiast Dr. Juljan Zilz (1871-1930). Bödeker: “I have named [the species] in honor of our zealous Viennese member who unfortunately died so suddenly and tragically in the service of our cause, university lecturer Dr. J. Zilz.” Zilz died of a heart attack in the tram on the way to a meeting with the treasurer of the Vienna branch of the German Cactus Society (Monatsschr. Deutsch. Kakteen-Ges. 9(9): 185. 1930).
Maarten H.J. van der Meer (2022 Jul 26). Escobaria zilziana. Dictionary of Cactus Names. Retrieved from https://www.cactusnames.org/escobaria-zilziana