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Glite Dictionary
genus Smilax

genus Smilax

9.9
A group of climbing or trailing plants like greenbriers
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɛnəs ˈsmaɪlæks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Smilax
  • The genus Smilax includes many species commonly known as greenbriers or catbriers.

Examples

  • Members of the genus Smilax can be found in temperate and tropical regions around the world.

  • The genus Smilax includes many climbing plants.

  • Botanists often debate whether the genus Smilax belongs in Smilacaceae or Liliaceae.

  • Many species in the genus Smilax are found in North America.

  • The genus Smilax includes many species commonly known as greenbriers or catbriers.

  • Members of the genus Smilax can be found in temperate and tropical regions around the world.

  • Many species in the genus Smilax are found in North America.

Synonyms

Smilax
vsgenus Smilax
  • Specialized
9.3

A climbing shrub or vine with prickly stems often called greenbrier

is the technical name noting family placement and including trailing plants

Surface Forms

genus Smilax singular
genera Smilax plural

Morphology

genus + Smilax

The meaning is directly compositional: 'genus' names a biological rank and 'Smilax' is the taxon name, so 'genus Smilax' clearly denotes the genus containing Smilax species. This taxonomic noun + name pattern is standard and cross-linguistically common, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Genus Smilax comes from an old Greek word Smilax that was used for a climbing or thorny plant. The word genus means a 'group' of related species, so the name shows it is a group of climbing plants like greenbriers.