Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
purslane family

purslane family

8.8
A group of small plants with thick leaves that store water and grow in many places, often in the Americas
  • noun
  • /ˈpɜrsleɪn ˈfæmɪli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia de la verdolaga
  • Many species in the purslane family thrive in arid regions thanks to their succulent leaves.

Examples

  • The purslane family contains both edible and ornamental plants valued worldwide.

  • Botanists study the purslane family to understand how plants adapt to dry environments.

  • The purslane family includes many edible plants.

  • Many gardeners love the purslane family for its versatility.

  • Many species in the purslane family thrive in arid regions thanks to their succulent leaves.

  • Botanists study the purslane family to understand how plants adapt to dry environments.

  • The purslane family contains both edible and ornamental plants valued worldwide.

Synonyms

Portulacaceae
vspurslane family
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of flowering plants with thick, fleshy leaves that store water

is the common or informal name used instead of that botanical name

Surface Forms

purslane family singular
purslane families plural

Morphology

purslane + family

The phrase 'purslane family' is compositionally built from 'purslane' (a plant) + 'family' (a grouping of related species), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes the botanical family containing purslane species. This noun‑compound pattern is standard and cross‑linguistically common, making the meaning predictable rather than idiomatic.

Etymology

Purslane family comes from the common plant purslane, a low plant with thick leaves that act like little cushions to hold water. So the name refers to the whole 'family' of related plants that have these water-storing leaves and can live in dry places.