spindle-tree family

9.9

A group of trees, shrubs, and vines with bright fruits often eaten by birds

noun

Specialized

: familia de los espinos

The spindle-tree family includes many attractive shrubs often used in landscaping.

Examples

Fruits of the spindle-tree family are popular with birds due to their bright colors.
Scientists are studying the medicinal properties of certain members of the spindle-tree family.
The spindle-tree family includes many beautiful species.
Many plants in the spindle-tree family produce bright fruits.
The spindle-tree family is known for its vibrant fruits that attract many different bird species.
In botanical gardens, the spindle-tree family is often showcased for its unique flowering plants.
Many ornamental plants belong to the spindle-tree family, adding color to gardens throughout the year.

Synonyms

Celastraceae

vsspindle-tree family

Specialized

9.9

A group of trees, bushes, and climbing plants that often have bright fruits

is the common family name rather than the technical botanical term

staff-tree family

vsspindle-tree family

Specialized

9.9

A family of trees, shrubs, and vines with bright-colored fruits

uses a different common family name instead of that alternate name

Surface Forms

spindle-tree family singular

spindle-tree families plural

Morphology

spindle-tree + family

The phrase is compositional: 'family' denotes a scientific grouping and when combined with a plant name ('spindle-tree') it straightforwardly means the taxonomic family that includes that plant. This X + family pattern is regular and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Spindle-tree family comes from a small tree called the spindle, because its hard wood was used to make a spindle, the small stick used to 'spin' wool. So the phrase now names a family of related trees and shrubs that include that kind of plant.