type

English translation: variety

01:38 Dec 23, 2004
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Science - Botany
English term or phrase: type
For type of plants/trees, which is the correct word to use: genus, species, class, group, genre or just 'type'?

In this particular case: Coconut tree (type) = mawah

Thanks.
Ramona Ali
Local time: 18:09
Selected answer:variety
Explanation:
Probably this is it. I surely cannot be sure, since I don't know anything about 'mawah' but if your assumption is true (it is not a different species or a local name of coco palm), it may be a subspecies or a variety...

http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/nph-ind.cgi?scrug=166...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs 2 mins (2004-12-23 10:40:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

BTW, actually every word you used may be appropriate depending on what you mean saying \"a type of plant\" ;-)
1. It depends on a type of system you try to fit to. If you want to say \"trees, bushes, herbs and grasses are types of plants\" it is OK in a colloqiual speech, but has no sense in taxonomy.
2. It depends on a group you want to describe. In taxonomy - your example is a member of \"superkingdom\" Eukaryota, \"kingdom\" Plants, \"division\" flowering plants, \"class\" Monocotyledons, \"order\" palms (Arecales), \"family\" palms (Arecaceae), \"genus\" Cocos, \"species\" Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), and probably \"variety\" mawah (conf.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut). So that every above word in inverted commas is \"a type of organism\" and a statement \"flowering plant/palm/coconut palm/mawah is a type of plant\" is in a way correct...

See for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxon
Selected response from:

vladex
Local time: 11:09
Grading comment
Thanks all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2variety
vladex
5type/species
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
3genus
Neil Phillipson


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
type/species


Explanation:
Either is fine.

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 11:09
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
genus


Explanation:
This would mean type or species in Latin which is often used when you have the Latin name for the plant. Is 'Mawah' the latin name for the genus? It doesn't look lie a Latin word.

Best of luck,
Neil.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2004-12-23 01:49:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, genus would have to be used with the proper Latin name for the species of plant. Since this is a local name, I suggest you state this, for example, Coconut tree, locally known as \'Mawah\'. Note, when writing in English, proper names should have capitals. I hope this helps.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2004-12-23 01:58:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, I understand that, so, in English, you will have to say something like \'Coconut tree, locally known as Mawah (is a type of coconut tree indigenous to this place). Type and Species is good here.

Neil Phillipson
Local time: 17:09
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Michele Fauble: Genus and species are not the same.
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
variety


Explanation:
Probably this is it. I surely cannot be sure, since I don't know anything about 'mawah' but if your assumption is true (it is not a different species or a local name of coco palm), it may be a subspecies or a variety...

http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/nph-ind.cgi?scrug=166...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs 2 mins (2004-12-23 10:40:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

BTW, actually every word you used may be appropriate depending on what you mean saying \"a type of plant\" ;-)
1. It depends on a type of system you try to fit to. If you want to say \"trees, bushes, herbs and grasses are types of plants\" it is OK in a colloqiual speech, but has no sense in taxonomy.
2. It depends on a group you want to describe. In taxonomy - your example is a member of \"superkingdom\" Eukaryota, \"kingdom\" Plants, \"division\" flowering plants, \"class\" Monocotyledons, \"order\" palms (Arecales), \"family\" palms (Arecaceae), \"genus\" Cocos, \"species\" Coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), and probably \"variety\" mawah (conf.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut). So that every above word in inverted commas is \"a type of organism\" and a statement \"flowering plant/palm/coconut palm/mawah is a type of plant\" is in a way correct...

See for example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxon


    Reference: http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/nph-ind.cgi?scrug=166...
vladex
Local time: 11:09
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PolishPolish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks all!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michele Fauble
45 mins

agree  Veronica Prpic Uhing
1 day 6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search