Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Smilacaceae

Smilacaceae

9.9
A family of flowering plants with climbing woody vines and tendrils
  • noun
  • /smɪləˈkeɪʒiˌi/
  • Specialized
: Smilacáceas
  • The Smilacaceae family includes many species of thorny, climbing vines found in woodlands.

Examples

  • Researchers are studying the medicinal uses of plants in the Smilacaceae.

  • The Smilacaceae family includes various species of greenbriar.

  • Most members of the Smilacaceae are recognizable by their glossy leaves and tendrils.

  • Many gardeners appreciate Smilacaceae for their climbing vines.

  • The Smilacaceae family includes many species that thrive in tropical climates.

  • Botanists study the Smilacaceae for their unique climbing growth habits.

  • Many gardeners appreciate the ornamental value of Smilacaceae in their landscapes.

Surface Forms

Smilacaceae singular
Smilacaceae plural

Morphology

Smilacaceae = Smilax (opaque) = smilac + aceae

The formation uses the scientific Latin family suffix '-aceae' attached to the genus name 'Smilax'; this taxonomic affix is specialized and not transparent to general English learners.

Etymology

Smilacaceae comes from the old Greek plant name Smilax, meaning a 'climbing vine', plus the ending -aceae, which means 'family' in plant names. So, Smilacaceae is simply the plant 'family' of Smilax-like climbing, woody vines often called greenbriars.