plantain family

6.8

A group of mostly small plants and a few shrubs, often including common lawn weeds

noun
/ˈplænteɪn ˈfæmɪli/

: familia de las plantagas

The plantain family includes a variety of herbaceous plants commonly found worldwide.

Examples

Many members of the plantain family are considered persistent weeds in gardens and lawns.
Researchers studied the ecological roles of several species within the plantain family.
The plantain family includes many weedy species.
Did you know the plantain family has several medicinal uses?
Many members of the plantain family are considered persistent weeds in gardens and lawns.
Researchers studied the ecological roles of several species within the plantain family.
The plantain family includes a variety of herbaceous plants commonly found worldwide.

Synonyms

Plantaginaceae

vsplantain family

Specialized

9.9

A family of small flowering plants like plantains and other common weeds

is the everyday common name rather than the Latin form

Surface Forms

plantain family singular

plantain families plural

Morphology

plantain + family

The meaning 'a family of plants that includes plantain species' is directly derivable from combining 'plantain' (the plant) with 'family' (a taxonomic grouping). This noun + family composition follows regular scientific naming patterns and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand the expression.

Etymology

Plantain family combines plantain, a small flat-leaved herb, and family meaning 'group of related plants'. The name plantain comes from Latin 'planta' meaning 'sole of the foot' because the leaves are flat like a shoe sole and were once used on wounds, so plantain family means the group of these flat-leaved herbs.