Solanum commersonii
- noun
- Specialized
- Researchers are exploring Solanum commersonii for its potential in crop improvement programs.
Examples
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The wild potato Solanum commersonii has been studied for its cold resistance.
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Unlike the common potato, Solanum commersonii is not typically cultivated for food.
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The Solanum commersonii plant thrives in the Andean regions.
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Farmers are cultivating Solanum commersonii for its unique traits.
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Researchers are exploring Solanum commersonii for its potential in crop improvement programs.
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The wild potato Solanum commersonii has been studied for its cold resistance.
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Unlike the common potato, Solanum commersonii is not typically cultivated for food.
Surface Forms
Morphology
Solanum + commersonii
This is a Latin binomial scientific name: 'Solanum' only signals a botanical genus and 'commersonii' is an unanalyzed epithet (an eponymic or Latinized name). A B1 learner who knows those surface forms would not be able to derive the specialised sense ‘a particular wild potato species native to South America used in breeding’, so the meaning is not compositionally predictable from the parts.
Etymology
Solanum commersonii is a two-part Latin name. Solanum is the old name for a group of plants like potatoes and tomatoes, and commersonii is 'named for' the French naturalist Philibert Commerson who collected plants in South America, so the name tells us it is a wild potato from that region.