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Glite Dictionary
Urocystis cepulae

Urocystis cepulae

9.9
A fungus that makes black blisters on onion leaves and bulbs, harming young plants
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Urocystis cepulae
  • Seed treatments are one method to protect young plants from Urocystis cepulae.

Examples

  • Farmers are advised to monitor their onion fields for symptoms of Urocystis cepulae.

  • The Urocystis cepulae fungus can severely damage onion crops.

  • Urocystis cepulae infections can significantly reduce onion crop yields if left untreated.

  • Farmers are worried about Urocystis cepulae affecting their yields.

  • Urocystis cepulae infections can significantly reduce onion crop yields if left untreated.

  • Farmers are advised to monitor their onion fields for symptoms of Urocystis cepulae.

  • Seed treatments are one method to protect young plants from Urocystis cepulae.

Surface Forms

Urocystis cepulae singular
Urocystis cepulaes plural

Morphology

Urocystis + cepulae

This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name composed of specialist Latin terms rather than ordinary English words; a B1 learner who knows the (non‑English) constituents would not be able to infer the meaning 'a smut fungus affecting onions'. The species epithet 'cepulae' hints at onions only through botanical/Latin knowledge (genitive form), so without domain-specific or Latin knowledge the expression is unpredictable and opaque to learners.

Etymology

Urocystis cepulae comes from Latin words: uro- and cystis meaning 'bladder', and cepulae meaning 'onion'. The fungus makes small, blackish, bladder-like blisters on onion skins and leaves, so the name describes the look and the plant it hurts.