Coix
| Coix | |
|---|---|
| Coix lacryma-jobi | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Supertribe: | Andropogonodae |
| Tribe: | Andropogoneae |
| Subtribe: | Coicinae Rchb. ex Clayton & Renvoize |
| Genus: | Coix L. |
| Type species | |
| Coix lacryma-jobi | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Coix /ˈkoʊɪks/ is a genus of Asian and Australian plants in the grass family.
The best-known species is Coix lacryma-jobi, widely called Job's tears. Its variety Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen is cultivated in many warm regions as a source of food, medicine, and ornamentation.
The generic name is from Ancient Greek κόϊξ (koix), which originally referred to the doum palm (Hyphaene thebaica); the fruits of the doum palm resemble the diaspores of Coix.