genus Zea

7.7

A group of grasses that includes maize, the plant we call corn

noun
/ˈdʒɛnəs ziːə/

Specialized

: género Zea

The genus Zea contains several cultivated and wild species of grasses.

Examples

Research on the genus Zea has been instrumental in understanding crop domestication.
Botanists classify maize under the genus Zea due to its unique characteristics.
The genus Zea includes several important crops.
Did you know that genus Zea is essential for food security?
Botanists classify maize under the genus Zea due to its unique characteristics.
Research on the genus Zea has been instrumental in understanding crop domestication.
The genus Zea contains several cultivated and wild species of grasses.

Synonyms

Zea

vsgenus Zea

Specialized

9.3

A group of large grass plants that includes maize or corn grown for food

is the same group but labeled explicitly as a genus in classification

Surface Forms

genus Zea singular

genera Zea plural

Morphology

genus + Zea

The phrase is directly compositional: 'genus' names a biological rank and 'Zea' is the name of that genus, so together they mean the genus called Zea (including maize). This follows a regular taxonomic naming pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Genus Zea comes from an ancient Greek word 'zea' that meant a kind of 'grain', and scientists kept the name Zea for a group of related plants. The word genus means a 'group' of species, so today genus Zea names the group of grasses that includes maize (corn).