Daucus

/ˈdɔːkəs/ noun

Definition

A genus of flowering plants in the carrot family (Apiaceae), including the common wild carrot and cultivated carrots; named for its umbrella-like flower clusters.

Etymology

From Latin 'daucus', derived from Greek 'daukos' (carrot). The term likely has Semitic origins, related to Arabic 'daw' and Hebrew 'gezer'. Scientific binomial naming convention assigns it as genus name.

Kelly Says

Wild carrots were originally purple and bitter, not orange—the Daucus carota we eat today was accidentally created when orange mutations were selected over centuries, basically accidental color-based breeding!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.