Kalmar “genus” tana nufin matsayi na harajin da ake amfani da shi a cikin rarrabuwar halittu wanda ke tattare da nau’in jinsin da ke da alaƙa. Sunan "Rubia" ya fito ne daga kalmar Latin "ruber", wanda ke nufin "ja", kuma yana nufin tushen ja na wasu nau'in jinsin a cikin wannan nau'in.Gaba ɗaya, kalmar "Genus Rubia" tana nufin rukuni na tsire-tsire a cikin dangin Rubiaceae waɗanda ke raba wasu halaye na zahiri da na halitta kuma an rarraba su tare bisa alaƙar juyin halitta.