Vertebraria

noun

Ver·​te·​brar·​ia

ˌvərtəˈbra(a)rēə

: a genus of fossil plants based upon rootlike remains of Triassic age that resemble a vertebral column

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Latin vertebra "joint, vertebra" + New Latin -aria -aria entry 2

Note: Name introduced by the British botanist John Forbes Royle (1798-1858) in Illustrations of the Botany and Other Branches of the Natural History of the Himalayan Mountains (London, 1839), vol. 1, p. xxix*, and vol. 2, plate 2.

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!