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Glite Dictionary
rubiaceous plant

rubiaceous plant

9.9
A plant that belongs to the coffee family, like coffee or gardenia
  • noun
  • /ˌruːbiˈeɪʃəs plænt/
  • Specialized
: planta rubiácea
  • The coffee tree is a well-known example of a rubiaceous plant.

Examples

  • Many rubiaceous plants are valued for their ornamental flowers and foliage.

  • Some species of rubiaceous plant are used in traditional medicine across the tropics.

  • The rubiaceous plant produces coffee beans.

  • Many rubiaceous plants thrive in tropical climates.

  • Many rubiaceous plants are valued for their ornamental flowers and foliage.

  • The coffee tree is a well-known example of a rubiaceous plant.

  • Some species of rubiaceous plant are used in traditional medicine across the tropics.

Synonyms

madderwort
vsrubiaceous plant
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant, often a shrub or vine, whose roots make a red dye

is any member of the same family regardless of dye use

Surface Forms

rubiaceous plant singular
rubiaceous plants plural

Morphology

rubiaceous + plant

The phrase literally combines 'rubiaceous' (relating to the plant family Rubiaceae) with 'plant', so its meaning 'a plant belonging to Rubiaceae' is directly derivable from the constituents. This follows the regular botanical formation (family name + -aceous) found cross-linguistically, making the composition transparent to a learner who knows the parts.

Etymology

The noun rubiaceous plant comes from the old Latin word rubia, the name for the 'madder' plant that people used to make red dye. So today rubiaceous plant means any plant in that same family, like the coffee tree or gardenia.