Vouacapoua Americana
/ˌvuː.əˌkæp.uː.ə əˌmɛr.ɪˈkɑː.nə/noun
A scientific name historically applied to a tropical South American tree in the legume family, especially Vouacapoua americana.
Did you know?The genus name Vouacapoua was taken from a local Guianan name recorded by French botanist Fusée Aublet, showing how Indigenous plant knowledge entered European taxonomy.
Etymological Timeline
Before the 18th century
Indigenous Guianan languages
vouacapoua
“A local name for the tree; the precise source language and literal meaning are not securely established.”
1775
French botanical Latin
Vouacapoua
“Fusée Aublet established the genus name from the Guianan vernacular name.”
1775
Botanical Latin
Vouacapoua americana
“Aublet published the species name, with americana meaning “of America.””
18th–19th centuries
Latin taxonomy
americana
“The feminine form of Americanus, agreeing grammatically with the feminine genus name Vouacapoua.”
Modern English
English
Vouacapoua americana
“A scientific binomial used for a South American tropical tree; its taxonomic placement and accepted status may vary among databases.”