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Glite Dictionary
genus Astragalus

genus Astragalus

9.9
A large group of herbs and small shrubs in the pea family found in northern temperate regions
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs əˈstræɡələs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Astragalus
  • Many species within the genus Astragalus are used in traditional medicine around the world.

Examples

  • The genus Astragalus includes many species of legumes.

  • Researchers discovered several new plants belonging to the genus Astragalus during their expedition.

  • The genus Astragalus is easily recognized by its unique seed pods and feathery leaves.

  • Several plants from the genus Astragalus are used in traditional medicine.

  • The genus Astragalus includes many species that thrive in dry, mountainous areas across North America.

  • Research on the genus Astragalus has revealed its potential medicinal uses in traditional herbal remedies.

  • Botanists classify the genus Astragalus within the Leguminosae family due to its distinctive flower and leaf structure.

Synonyms

Astragalus
vsgenus Astragalus
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A group of wild plants like small herbs or shrubs related to peas

stresses that it is the largest genus within that pea-family

Surface Forms

genus Astragalus singular
genera Astragalus plural

Morphology

genus + Astragalus

The phrase is fully compositional: 'genus' names a biological taxonomic rank and 'Astragalus' is the name of that genus, so the meaning 'the taxonomic group called Astragalus' is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows common cross-linguistic naming patterns for taxa and would be clear to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Genus Astragalus may come from the old Greek word astragalos, which meant a small 'ankle bone' that people also used as a 'dice', because the plant's little seed pods look like tiny bones. That's why the name came to mean this large group of plants.