genus Leontopodium
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnəs liˌɒntəˈpoʊdiəm/
- Specialized
- The genus Leontopodium includes the famous edelweiss.
Examples
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Many alpine plants in the genus Leontopodium are adapted to harsh, cold environments.
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The genus Leontopodium is known for its woolly white flowers found in mountain regions.
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Botanists classify edelweiss under the genus Leontopodium, which is native to Europe and Asia.
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Many species in the genus Leontopodium thrive in high altitudes.
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The genus Leontopodium is known for its woolly white flowers found in mountain regions.
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Botanists classify edelweiss under the genus Leontopodium, which is native to Europe and Asia.
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Many alpine plants in the genus Leontopodium are adapted to harsh, cold environments.
Synonyms
A group of mountain plants in the daisy family that includes edelweiss
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' names a biological rank and 'Leontopodium' is the proper name of that genus, so together they mean the taxonomic group called Leontopodium (a group of alpine plants). Given knowledge of both constituents, the meaning is directly predictable and mirrors equivalent naming patterns in other languages, so it is transparent to learners.
Etymology
Genus Leontopodium may come from Greek roots leon 'lion' and podion 'little foot' because the fuzzy white flowers look like a small lion's paw, and that's why the name was used for this group of mountain plants that includes edelweiss.