Meaning & use
Lupinus
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Meaning
proper nounpropertechnicalbiology
The scientific name for a large group of flowering plants in the pea family, often called lupins or lupines.
Grammar: Used as a scientific Latin name; always capitalized and often italicized.
Patterns
- Lupinus (as a genus name)
- species of Lupinus
The wildflower guide lists Lupinus as a genus with hundreds of species.
Lupinus plants are known for their tall, colorful flower spikes.
In the park, we saw several Lupinus varieties blooming in purple and blue.
Common combinations
- Lupinus genus
- The Lupinus genus includes both annual and perennial species.
- Lupinus species
- Some Lupinus species are grown as garden ornamentals.
- Lupinus plant
- A Lupinus plant can add height to a flower border.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: Lupinus or lupus? Lupinus or lupin?
Lupinus vs lupus
Lupus is a medical condition, while Lupinus is a plant genus; they sound similar but are completely different.
Lupinus vs lupin
Lupin is the common name for the plant, but Lupinus is the scientific Latin name; use Lupinus in technical contexts.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'Lupinus' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 is correct because Lupinus is the scientific genus name, used in technical contexts. Option 0 is wrong because the common name 'lupin' would be used in everyday speech. Option 2 is wrong because Lupinus is not a disease. Option 3 is wrong because the common name 'lupin' is more natural for gardening talk.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Lupinus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.