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Glite Dictionary
Dracaenaceae

Dracaenaceae

9.9
A group of tropical plants like the dragon tree now usually placed in the asparagus family
  • noun
  • /ˌdrækeɪˈneɪʃiˌi/
  • Archaic
: dracaenáceas
  • Botanists debated whether Dracaenaceae should be treated as a separate family or a subfamily within Agavaceae.

Examples

  • Many species formerly classified in the Dracaenaceae are now placed under the family Asparagaceae.

  • The dragon tree, a well-known ornamental plant, once belonged to the Dracaenaceae family.

  • The Dracaenaceae family includes many popular houseplants.

  • Many gardeners love Dracaenaceae for their unique shapes.

  • Many species formerly classified in the Dracaenaceae are now placed under the family Asparagaceae.

  • The Dracaenaceae family includes many popular houseplants.

  • The dragon tree, a well-known ornamental plant, once belonged to the Dracaenaceae family.

Synonyms

Dracenaceae
vsDracaenaceae
  • Archaic
9.9

A group of plants once seen as a separate family but now usually part of Agavaceae

is broader, includes tropical dragon trees and links to multiple families

Surface Forms

Dracaenaceae singular
Dracaenaceas plural

Morphology

Dracaenaceae = Dracaena (semi-transparent) = Dracaena + aceae

Formed from the genus name Dracaena plus the technical botanical family suffix '-aceae'; the relation is clear to those familiar with taxonomy but the suffix is specialized and not obvious to average learners.

Etymology

Dracaenaceae comes from the plant name Dracaena, which comes from a Greek word meaning 'dragon' and is the same idea as the English word dragon, because these trees make a red resin called 'dragon's blood'. The ending -aceae is used for plant families, so Dracaenaceae means the family of dragon trees and their close relatives.