subfamily Nelumbonaceae
- noun
- Specialized
- The subfamily Nelumbonaceae contains only the genus Nelumbo, best known for the lotus flower.
Examples
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Taxonomists sometimes elevate the subfamily Nelumbonaceae to family rank, separating it from other water lilies.
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Characteristics of the subfamily Nelumbonaceae include large, showy aquatic flowers and peltate leaves.
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The subfamily Nelumbonaceae includes beautiful aquatic plants.
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Did you know the subfamily Nelumbonaceae is often confused with other plants?
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The subfamily Nelumbonaceae features prominent water flowers that float on the surface of ponds.
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In botanical studies, the subfamily Nelumbonaceae is classified under the family of water lilies.
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Plants in the subfamily Nelumbonaceae are often recognized for their unique round leaves and vibrant blooms.
Synonyms
A family of water plants that includes the lotus and similar flowering plants
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase denotes a taxonomic subgroup named Nelumbonaceae; its meaning is directly compositional from 'subfamily' (a rank below family) and 'Nelumbonaceae' (the family name of aquatic plants), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning. Although botanical terminology is specialist, the naming pattern follows standard taxonomic composition found across languages, making the expression predictable.
Etymology
Subfamily Nelumbonaceae comes from the lotus name Nelumbo plus the common plant ending -aceae, a label that shows a group of related plants. A 'subfamily' is a smaller group inside a plant 'family', so the phrase means the small group of water plants that includes the lotus.