genus Beta

7.1

A group of plants that includes beetroot and sugar beet

noun
/ˈdʒɛnəs ˈbeɪtə/

Specialized

: género Beta

The genus Beta includes various types of beets.

Examples

The genus Beta includes several species important in agriculture.
Researchers studied genetic variation within the genus Beta.
Many varieties of beetroot belong to the genus Beta.
Did you know that genus Beta has many species?
Many varieties of beetroot belong to the genus Beta.
Researchers studied genetic variation within the genus Beta.
The genus Beta includes several species important in agriculture.

Surface Forms

genus Beta singular

genera Beta plural

Morphology

genus + Beta

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' denotes a biological rank and 'Beta' functions as the proper name/label of that group, so together they mean the taxonomic group called Beta (the beets). This follows standard scientific naming patterns found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows 'genus' and treats 'Beta' as a name can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Beta comes from an old name for the 'beet'. Plant scientists used the word Beta to group all the beet plants, so today genus Beta means the group that includes the common beetroot and sugar beet.