Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
cattail family

cattail family

7.7
A group of tall marsh plants like cattails with long leaves and brown flower spikes
  • noun
  • /ˈkætˌteɪl ˈfæmɪli/
  • US
translation icon : familia de las sedas de agua
  • Marsh restoration projects often feature members of the cattail family to improve habitat quality.

Examples

  • The cattail family includes species known for their cigar-shaped brown flower spikes.

  • Many birds nest in wetlands dominated by plants of the cattail family.

  • The cattail family thrives in wetland areas.

  • Many species belong to the cattail family.

  • Many birds nest in wetlands dominated by plants of the cattail family.

  • Marsh restoration projects often feature members of the cattail family to improve habitat quality.

  • The cattail family includes species known for their cigar-shaped brown flower spikes.

Synonyms

Typhaceae
vscattail family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of plants that grow in wet places like cattails with long leaves and roots that spread

is the common name mentioning a typical plant in that group
family Typhaceae
vscattail family
  • Specialized
9.2

Group of wetland plants like cattails with long narrow leaves and spreading roots

is the broader common term highlighting a representative species

Surface Forms

cattail family singular
cattail families plural

Morphology

cattail + family

The phrase is fully compositional: 'cattail' (a tall marsh plant) combined with 'family' (a grouping of related species) yields the meaning 'the taxonomic group of plants related to/including cattails.' This noun + family taxonomy pattern is transparent and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name cattail family comes from the plant cattail, which has a long stem and a brown, tail-like flower that looks like a cat's tail. The word family here means a 'group of similar plants', so cattail family means that group of related marsh plants.