amaranth family
- noun
- /ˈæməˌrænt ˈfæmɪli/
- Specialized
- Many species in the amaranth family are cultivated for their striking flowers and edible leaves.
Examples
-
The amaranth family includes various species, such as amaranths, known for their vibrant colored blooms.
-
The genus Celosia, of the amaranth family, offers blooms that satisfy the florist or gardener who's looking for a more unusual plant.
Academic text (2004) -
Plants belonging to the amaranth family often thrive in both temperate and tropical climates.
Synonyms
A family of flowering plants like amaranth found worldwide
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'amaranth' names the plant and 'family' denotes a taxonomic grouping, so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the plant family that includes amaranths. The 'X family' construction is a common, cross-linguistic pattern in scientific nomenclature, making the meaning immediately derivable from the constituents.
Etymology
The noun amaranth family may come from the old idea of the amaranth flower that 'does not fade'. 'Family' groups related plants, so the name helps us remember it is a group of often tough plants with small flowers.