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Glite Dictionary
wax-myrtle family

wax-myrtle family

9.3
A group of flowering shrubs and small trees with scented leaves often in wetlands
  • noun
  • /wæks ˈmɜːrtəl ˈfæmɪli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia de la mirto de cera
  • Sweet fern, despite its name and fern-like foliage, is actually a flowering plant in the wax myrtle family.

Examples

  • The wax-myrtle family includes many aromatic shrubs that thrive in wetland areas.

  • Plants from the wax-myrtle family are often used in landscaping for their fragrant leaves.

  • The berries of the wax-myrtle family are a food source for various bird species.

Synonyms

Myricaceae
vswax-myrtle family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of scented shrubs and small trees like bayberry that grow in warm and cool regions

is the common English name used for the same plant family

Surface Forms

wax-myrtle family singular
wax-myrtle families plural

Morphology

wax-myrtle + family

The phrase is a straightforward taxonomic construction: combining the plant name 'wax-myrtle' with 'family' yields 'the family of wax-myrtles' (a group of related species). This noun + family pattern is a common, compositional way to name biological families in English and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.

Etymology

Wax-myrtle family is named after the shrub wax myrtle, whose small berries were once boiled to make wax for candles. So the name helps you remember that this 'family' is a group of plants related to that waxy, fragrant shrub.