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Glite Dictionary
Ephedraceae

Ephedraceae

9.9
A family of small shrubs that grow in dry places
  • noun
  • /ɪˌfɛdrəˈsiːi/
  • Specialized
: Ephedraceae
  • The Ephedraceae family consists of shrubs known for their medicinal properties.

Examples

  • Many species within Ephedraceae thrive in arid and desert environments.

  • Botanists often debate whether Ephedraceae should be placed within the Gnetaceae family.

  • The Ephedraceae family includes various species of ephedra.

  • Many plants in the Ephedraceae family thrive in arid conditions.

  • The Ephedraceae family is well-known for its shrubs that can survive in dry climates.

  • Some medicinal compounds are derived from plants in the Ephedraceae family.

  • Researchers study the Ephedraceae to learn more about their adaptation to harsh environments.

Synonyms

Gnetaceae
vsEphedraceae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of seed plants with small separate male and female flowers and fleshy or winged seeds

is a narrower family sometimes classified within that broader group

Surface Forms

Ephedraceae singular
Ephedraceas plural

Morphology

Ephedraceae = Ephedra (semi-transparent) = ephedra + aceae

Formed by the standard botanical family suffix '-aceae' added to the genus name 'Ephedra'; the structure is regular but understanding requires specialized botanical knowledge.

Etymology

Ephedraceae comes from the plant name Ephedra plus the family ending -aceae, which is used for plant families. The name Ephedra uses Greek parts epi- 'upon' and hedra 'seat', a helpful way to remember these low shrubs that seem to 'sit' on the ground. So, Ephedraceae simply means the 'family of plants like Ephedra'.