genus Zostera
- noun
- /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈzoʊstərə/
- Specialized
- The genus Zostera includes several species of eelgrass.
Examples
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Restoration projects often involve planting members of the genus Zostera to improve ecosystem health.
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The genus Zostera provides crucial habitat for many marine species.
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Researchers are studying the decline of genus Zostera populations in coastal waters.
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Did you know that the genus Zostera is found in many coastal regions?
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Researchers are studying the decline of genus Zostera populations in coastal waters.
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The genus Zostera provides crucial habitat for many marine species.
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Restoration projects often involve planting members of the genus Zostera to improve ecosystem health.
Synonyms
A sea grass that grows in shallow coastal waters and forms dense underwater meadows
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is transparently compositional: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the proper name 'Zostera' directly yields 'the genus named Zostera' (i.e., the group of eelgrasses). This taxonomic construction is a regular, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Genus Zostera comes from the Latin word genus, meaning 'group', and the Greek word zoster, meaning 'belt', because the long ribbon leaves of these sea grasses look like a belt. That's why the name refers to a group of eelgrasses with long, ribbon-like leaves.