Cajanus

/kəˈdʒænəs/ noun

Definition

The scientific genus name for the pigeon pea plant (Cajanus cajan), a tropical legume grown for its nutritious seeds.

Etymology

From Portuguese cagejão or similar Romance terms, Latinized into the scientific genus name Cajanus. The plant name was adapted into formal botanical nomenclature.

Kelly Says

When botanists named the pigeon pea genus Cajanus, they were preserving the Portuguese trader's word for the plant—showing how commerce literally got written into science.

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