myrsine family

9.9

A group of mostly tropical trees and shrubs, some found in Florida

noun
/ˈmɜrˌsaɪn ˈfæmɪli/

Specialized

: familia de las mirsinas

Botanists discovered a new shrub from the myrsine family in the rainforests of Southeast Asia.

Examples

Several species in the myrsine family are valued for their ornamental foliage.
Some members of the myrsine family have medicinal uses in traditional practices.
The myrsine family includes many tropical plants.
Did you know the myrsine family is native to Florida?
Botanists discovered a new shrub from the myrsine family in the rainforests of Southeast Asia.
Several species in the myrsine family are valued for their ornamental foliage.
Some members of the myrsine family have medicinal uses in traditional practices.

Synonyms

Myrsinaceae

vsmyrsine family

Specialized

9.9

A family of tropical trees and shrubs mainly from Asia and Africa, with some in Florida

is the common name used outside formal taxonomy

Surface Forms

myrsine family singular

myrsine families plural

Morphology

Myrsine + family

The phrase combines the botanical name 'Myrsine' with the common noun 'family' in the taxonomic sense, so its meaning — a family/group of species related to Myrsine — is directly derivable from the parts. This compositional pattern (X + family = the taxonomic family of X) is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it, despite its technical botanical register.

Etymology

Myrsine family comes from the plant name Myrsine, an old word for a small shrub like the myrtle. So, myrsine family means a 'family' or group of plants that are related to Myrsine, which is why it refers to those tropical trees and shrubs today.