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Glite Dictionary
Cactaceae

Cactaceae

9.3
A family of flowering plants with thick water-filled stems and sharp spines that grow in dry places
  • noun
  • /kækˈteɪʃiˌi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Cactáceas
  • The family of flowering plants known as Cactaceae includes various species that thrive in dry climates.

Examples

  • Prickly pear is the common name for several species of the genus Opuntia (family Cactaceae) that are indigenous to the western hemisphere.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Many gardeners choose Cactaceae for their landscapes because they require little water.

  • In arid regions, plants from the Cactaceae family store water in their stems to survive.

Synonyms

cactus family
vsCactaceae
4.9

A group of plants with thick stems that store water in dry areas

is the formal family name used for those dry-adapted flowering plants
family Cactaceae
vsCactaceae
  • Specialized
7.5

A group of plants like a cactus that have thick stems for holding water and often sharp spines

is the general family term focusing on water-adapted stems rather than spine detail

Compounds

family Cactaceae
  • Specialized
7.5

A group of plants like a cactus that have thick stems for holding water and often sharp spines

Surface Forms

Cactaceae singular
Cactaceae plural

Morphology

Cactaceae = cactus (semi-transparent) = cactus + aceae

The relation to 'cactus' is clear, but the suffix '-aceae' is a specialized Latin botanical family ending and its taxonomic meaning ('family of') is not obvious to average learners.

Etymology

Cactaceae starts with the familiar word cactus, from a Greek word for a 'prickly plant', and ends with the plant ending -aceae that means 'family' of plants. So Cactaceae names the 'family' of cacti, the group of cactus plants with thick, water-saving stems that live in dry places.