Carpi: Meaning and Botanical Significance - Definition & Examples

Definition

Carpi is a Latin word that means "fruits" or "crops." It is often used in scientific names of plants, especially those that produce fruits or other edible parts.

Examples

- Carpinus betulus: European hornbeam

- Carpinus caroliniana: American hornbeam

- Carpinus cordata: Japanese hornbeam

- Carpinus laxiflora: Looseflower hornbeam

- Carpinus tschonoskii: Manchurian hornbeam

Related Terms

* Carpel: A structure in a flower that produces ovules.

* Carpophage: An animal that eats fruits.

* Carpology: The study of fruits.

Origin

The word carpi comes from the Latin word carpere, which means "to pluck or gather." This word is thought to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European root *kerp-, which also gave rise to the English word "harvest."