Bryum
/ˈbraɪ.əm/noun
A genus of small mosses in the family Bryaceae.
Did you know?The name Bryum was adopted into scientific Latin from Ancient Greek βρύον, a word used for moss and, in some contexts, sea growth.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰrew-
“To swell, well up, or sprout; a proposed ancient root connected with growth and bubbling emergence.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
βρύειν (brýein)
“To swell, sprout, or grow vigorously.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
βρύον (brýon)
“Moss; also used in some contexts for sea growth or seaweed.”
18th Century
New Latin
Bryum
“A botanical genus name formed from the Greek term for moss.”
1753
New Latin
Bryum
“Formal genus name used by Carl Linnaeus in modern botanical classification.”
Modern English
English
bryum
“A moss belonging to the genus Bryum.”