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Glite Dictionary
Valerianaceae

Valerianaceae

9.9
A group of plants with a strong, often unpleasant smell sometimes used as medicine
  • noun
  • /ˌvælɪˈɛrɪəˌneɪsiː/
  • Specialized
: valerianáceas
  • Valerian root, from the Valerianaceae, is often found in herbal supplements.

Examples

  • Botanists have studied the unique aroma produced by flowers of the Valerianaceae.

  • The Valerianaceae family includes plants commonly used for medicinal purposes.

  • The Valerianaceae family includes many plants used in herbal medicine.

  • Have you ever smelled a Valerianaceae plant?

  • The Valerianaceae genus is known for its strong, distinctive scent, often used in teas.

  • Many herbalists incorporate the Valerianaceae family into their remedies due to its aromatic properties.

  • In gardens, plants from the Valerianaceae family are sometimes chosen for their unique smell.

Surface Forms

Valerianaceae singular
Valerianaceas plural

Morphology

Valerianaceae = valerian (semi-transparent) = valerian + aceae

Formed from 'valerian' + the botanical family suffix '-aceae'; the plant base signals the semantic domain but '-aceae' is specialized terminology that many learners may not know.

Etymology

Valerianaceae comes from the plant name Valeriana, which itself comes from the Latin valere meaning 'to be strong' or 'be well'. A helpful memory hook is that people long used valerian root as a medicine to help health, so the family name links to strength and healing even though these plants are also known for a very strong smell.