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Glite Dictionary
genus Monarda

genus Monarda

8.6
A group of North American herbs with scented leaves in the mint family, like beebalm
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒiːnəs mɒˈnɑːrdə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Monarda
  • Gardeners appreciate the genus Monarda for attracting pollinators to their plants.

Examples

  • In herbal medicine, members of the genus Monarda are often used to make teas.

  • The genus Monarda was named for him.

    Academic text (2014)

  • The genus Monarda includes various species known for their fragrant leaves.

Synonyms

monarda
vsgenus Monarda
  • Specialized
9.9

A scented herb with bright flowers that attracts bees and hummingbirds

lists multiple common names and alternative spellings instead of one name

Surface Forms

genus Monarda singular
genera Monarda plural

Morphology

genus + monarda

This is a straightforward taxonomic noun phrase: 'genus' names a biological rank and 'Monarda' is the name of the group, so together they mean 'the genus called Monarda.' The composition follows a transparent, cross-linguistic pattern (rank + taxon name), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can derive the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Monarda is a scientific name given in honour of a 16th-century Spanish doctor, Nicolás Monardes, who wrote about plants from the Americas. These plants have minty, strongly scented leaves and bright flowers that attract bees, so today genus Monarda refers to a group of scented herbs often called 'beebalm' or 'horsemint'.