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Glite Dictionary
genus Amaryllis

genus Amaryllis

8.6
A group of plants that grow from bulbs in southern Africa with large showy flowers
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs əˈmɛrɪlɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Amaryllis
  • The genus Amaryllis includes several popular ornamental bulbs prized for their large, showy flowers.

Examples

  • Botanists originally classified many species under the genus Amaryllis, but some have since been reassigned.

  • Most members of the genus Amaryllis are native to the western regions of southern Africa.

  • The genus Amaryllis includes several stunning flowers.

  • Did you know that genus Amaryllis is native to southern Africa?

  • Most members of the genus Amaryllis are native to the western regions of southern Africa.

  • The genus Amaryllis includes several popular ornamental bulbs prized for their large, showy flowers.

  • Botanists originally classified many species under the genus Amaryllis, but some have since been reassigned.

Surface Forms

genus Amaryllis singular
genera Amaryllis plural

Morphology

genus + amaryllis

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the plant name 'Amaryllis' directly yields the meaning 'the taxonomic genus called Amaryllis.' This taxonomic naming pattern is regular and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Genus Amaryllis gets its name from an old Greek figure, Amaryllis, a young shepherdess in ancient poems; one popular story says plant scientists chose her name because the bulbs' large, bright flowers looked as lovely as that girl in the stories. So today genus Amaryllis refers to the 'group' of bulb plants with showy flowers.