Raphanus
/ˈrafənəs/(also raphanus) Botany
noun
Originally: †the root of the cultivated radish; (also) the root of the turnip (obsolete ). In later use (in form Raphanus): a genus of plants of the family Brassicaceae, the members of which include the cultivated radish, R. sativus, and the wild radish, R. raphanistrum; (also raphanus) any plant of this genus.
- Valid publication of the genus name: Linnaeus Species plantarum(1753) II. 669..
Origin
Late Middle English; earliest use found in John Trevisa (c1342–?1402), translator. From classical Latin raphanus radish from ancient Greek ῥάϕανος radish from the same base as ῥάϕυς, parallel form to Hellenistic Greek ῥάπυς turnip + -ανος, suffix seen in a number of plant names.