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genus Quamassia

genus Quamassia

9.9
A group of plants with large edible bulbs from North and South America
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs kwəˈmæsɪə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Quamassia
  • The genus Quamassia includes several species with edible bulbs.

Examples

  • Scientists are studying the edible bulbs of the genus Quamassia for new agricultural uses.

  • Native peoples traditionally harvested plants from the genus Quamassia as a food source.

  • Botanists classify several similar North American wildflowers within the genus Quamassia.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the genus Quamassia for its large bulbs.

  • Native peoples traditionally harvested plants from the genus Quamassia as a food source.

  • Botanists classify several similar North American wildflowers within the genus Quamassia.

  • Scientists are studying the edible bulbs of the genus Quamassia for new agricultural uses.

Synonyms

Quamassia
vsgenus Quamassia
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of flowering plants with large edible bulbs found in North and South America

is more specific about having a scapose herb growth form
Camassia
vsgenus Quamassia
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant with large edible bulbs and blue flowers used as food by native people

focuses on botanical form rather than cultural or historical food use

Surface Forms

Morphology

genus + Quamassia

The phrase is a straightforward composition of the taxonomic noun 'genus' and the proper name 'Quamassia'; a learner who knows 'genus' as a biological rank and 'Quamassia' as the plant name will easily infer it refers to the genus called Quamassia. Scientific naming conventions (genus + name) are regular and cross-linguistically recognizable, so the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Genus Quamassia may come from a Native word for wild plants whose big, edible bulbs people dug up and ate as 'food'. So the name points to this group of plants and their edible bulbs today.