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OK, I completely misread that title.
Same here. I am not a native speaker, but it seems like a relatively uncommon word. Maybe that's why we both read something else
It's technical jargon. Scientists used speak a mishmash of Greek and Latin, since those were common among educated people. That hung on for longer than was realistic, but it became a kind of slang for group recognition.

This department was named in the 1880s. They probably would just call it the Apple Department today, though I admit I still like the tone that sort-of-Greek-or-Latin rings.

Would make for an interesting new placeholder image generator a la placecats.com