family Rhamnaceae

9.9

A group of thorny trees and shrubs that make fruit with a hard stone and are used in medicine

noun
/ˈfæmɪli ˌræmˈneɪsiˌi/

Specialized

: familia Rhamnaceae

The family Rhamnaceae includes many species with medicinal properties.

Examples

Many shrubs belonging to the family Rhamnaceae are known for their thorny branches.
Botanists have identified several new species within the family Rhamnaceae in recent years.
The family Rhamnaceae includes plants that are valued in traditional medicine.
Many plants in the family Rhamnaceae are used in traditional medicine.
Many shrubs belonging to the family Rhamnaceae are known for their thorny branches.
The family Rhamnaceae includes plants that are valued in traditional medicine.
Botanists have identified several new species within the family Rhamnaceae in recent years.

Synonyms

Rhamnaceae

vsfamily Rhamnaceae

Specialized

9.9

A group of mostly thorny trees and bushes with small fruits and some used in medicine

is the formal botanical label rather than the common family name

buckthorn family

vsfamily Rhamnaceae

Specialized

9.6

A group of thorny trees and bushes that have small fruit often used for medicine

is the formal botanical label rather than the common family name

Surface Forms

family Rhamnaceae singular

families Rhamnaceae plural

Morphology

family + Rhamnaceae

This is a straightforward taxonomic noun phrase: 'family' (a scientific grouping) combined with the proper name 'Rhamnaceae' denotes the biological family called Rhamnaceae. The meaning is fully compositional and follows cross-linguistic scientific naming conventions, so a learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Family Rhamnaceae gets its name from the old plant name Rhamnus, the 'buckthorn', a small thorny shrub people once used in medicine. So family Rhamnaceae simply means the group of plants related to those thorny, medicinal shrubs.