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Glite Dictionary
family Araceae

family Araceae

8.4
A large group of flowering plants like philodendrons and calla lilies
  • noun
  • /ˈfæmɪli əˈreɪsi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia Araceae
  • Many popular houseplants, such as the philodendron, belong to the family Araceae.

Examples

  • The family Araceae is known for its distinctive spathe-and-spadix flowers.

  • Did you know that the family Araceae contains anthuriums?

  • Botanists have recently classified several new genera within the family Araceae.

  • The family Araceae includes many tropical plants.

  • Many popular houseplants, such as the philodendron, belong to the family Araceae.

  • The family Araceae includes many tropical plants.

  • Botanists have recently classified several new genera within the family Araceae.

Synonyms

Araceae
vsfamily Araceae
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of plants that make flowers like philodendrons and peace lilies

is the everyday name for the same group rather than the scientific label
arum family
vsfamily Araceae
  • Specialized
8.5

A group of flowering plants like peace lilies and philodendrons with showy flowers

is the scientific label for the same group rather than a common name

Surface Forms

family Araceae singular
families Araceae plural

Morphology

family + Araceae

The meaning 'a plant family named Araceae' is directly and compositionally derived from 'family' (a scientific grouping) + the taxon name 'Araceae'; a learner who knows both constituents will understand this denotes that botanical family. This naming pattern (family + Latin name) is standard in taxonomy and cross-linguistically common, so the expression is immediately interpretable by learners.

Etymology

Family Araceae comes from arum plants that have a leaf-like hood around a central spike. Imagine a curved hood, the spathe, wrapped around a thin stick, the spadix; that clear picture helps you remember that family Araceae means 'a group of plants' that share this same flower shape.