/ˈsʌbˌdʒɛn(ə)rə/, U.S. /ˈsəbˌdʒɛnərə/.subgenusn.
/ˈsʌbˌdʒiːnəs/, U.S. /ˈsəbˌdʒinəs//ˈsʌbˌdʒɛn(ə)rə/, U.S. /ˈsəbˌdʒɛnərə/. A subdivision of a genus; (Biology) a taxonomic category ranking below genus and above species; a group of this rank. Cf. section n. 2c.A subgeneric name is usually omitted from a Latin binomial, but when included it is placed after the genus in parentheses.
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the world > life > biology > taxonomy > taxon > [noun] > genus or sub-genus
folka1382
genus1608
subgenus1699
congeneric1965
1699 G. Harvey Vanities Philos. & Physick 10 The Physica Specialis depends upon the application of the forementioned, to every Subgenus, Species, and individual Body.
1813 J. C. Prichard Res. Physical Hist. Man iii. §3. 110 The family of Mustelæ are distinguished by Cuvier into four departments or sub-genera.
1849 J. H. Balfour Man. Bot. §708 Occasionally, a subgenus is formed by grouping certain species, which agree more nearly with each other in some important particulars than the other species of the genus.
1885 Encycl. Brit. XVIII. 733/1 The well-known Gold and Silver Pheasants..each the type of a distinct section of sub-genus.
1921 H. F. Osborn Age of Mammals App. 552 (table) Cervus. True Deer, Wapiti, etc... Subgenus Rucervus. Rucervine Group. C. duvauceli, etc.
1952 P. Mann Systematics Flowering Plants ii. 111 It has been suggested that the five sub-genera of Prunus (Almonds and Peaches,..[etc.]) each be raised to generic rank.
2003 Horticulture May 57/1 Those taxa with fruit as a single indehiscent berry..have been placed in the subgenus Paris.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2012; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1699