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Glite Dictionary
family Mimosaceae

family Mimosaceae

9.1
A group of thorny shrubs or small trees whose leaves often fold when touched
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli ˌmɪmoʊˈseɪi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Mimosaceae
  • The family Mimosaceae includes plants whose leaves fold when touched, such as the sensitive plant.

Examples

  • Many ornamental shrubs belonging to the family Mimosaceae are grown for their unique leaf movements.

  • Botanists have debated whether to classify certain acacias within the family Mimosaceae or the Leguminosae.

  • The family Mimosaceae includes many fascinating species.

  • Many plants in the family Mimosaceae have unique leaf movements.

  • Many ornamental shrubs in the family Mimosaceae are admired for their ability to fold their leaves when touched.

  • The family Mimosaceae consists of various spiny plants known for their unique leaf movement in response to stimuli.

  • Scientists study the family Mimosaceae to understand how certain plants exhibit fascinating touch responses.

Synonyms

Mimosaceae
vsfamily Mimosaceae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of thorny shrubs and small trees with leaves that move when touched

is the formal family name for that same group of plants
subfamily Mimosoideae
vsfamily Mimosaceae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of plants in the bean family that includes acacias and mimosas

is the broader family-level grouping rather than this lower-ranked subgroup
Mimosoideae
vsfamily Mimosaceae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of flowering plants like acacia and mimosa in the pea family

is the higher family category rather than a lower taxonomic rank

Surface Forms

family Mimosaceae singular
families Mimosaceae plural

Morphology

family + Mimosaceae

The phrase is a straightforward taxonomic NP: 'family' (a scientific grouping) applied to the proper name 'Mimosaceae' (a plant family). A B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings can directly infer that it refers to the taxonomic group of plants called Mimosaceae, and scientific naming patterns of this type are cross-linguistically common.

Etymology

Family Mimosaceae comes from the plant name Mimosa, known for leaves that fold when touched, plus the ending -aceae, a Latin ending that means a plant 'family'. So, family Mimosaceae simply names the group of plants related to Mimosa, many of which are spiny shrubs with leaves that close when touched.