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Glite Dictionary
genus Solanum

genus Solanum

8.1
A group of plants that includes potato and eggplant in the nightshade family
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒiːnəs səˈleɪnəm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : género Solanum
  • The genus Solanum includes both the common potato and the eggplant.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered a new species belonging to the genus Solanum in South America.

  • Many plants in the genus Solanum contain alkaloids that can be toxic to humans.

  • The genus Solanum includes many species of plants.

  • Did you know that genus Solanum contains the potato?

  • The genus Solanum includes both the common potato and the eggplant.

  • Researchers discovered a new species belonging to the genus Solanum in South America.

  • Many plants in the genus Solanum contain alkaloids that can be toxic to humans.

Synonyms

Solanum
vsgenus Solanum
  • Specialized
8.4

A group of flowering plants that includes potato and eggplant

is the reference taxon that defines the Solanaceae family

Surface Forms

genus Solanum singular
genera Solanum plural

Morphology

genus + Solanum

This is a fully compositional noun phrase: 'genus' (a biological rank) combined with the proper name 'Solanum' yields the taxonomic group called Solanum. A B1 learner who knows both words can directly infer it refers to the genus containing nightshade, potato, and eggplant, since botanical naming conventions are transparent and cross-linguistically recognizable.

Etymology

Genus Solanum comes from the old Latin word 'solanum', used for the 'nightshade' plants. Because people long ago used some of these plants for food and medicine, botanists kept the name for the whole group that today includes potato and eggplant.