pea family
1
4.1
- noun
- /piː ˈfæmɪli/
- Specialized
:
familia de las leguminosas
- Many shrubby plants of the pea family thrive in Mediterranean regions, providing essential habitats for local wildlife.
- the pea family (Fabaceae)
- members of the pea family
Examples
-
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is a flowering plant in the pea family (Fabaceae), commonly used as forage for livestock.
-
Eisner and colleagues headed for central Florida, where the rattlebox plant, a member of the genus Crotalaria, which is in the pea family, flourishes.
Academic text (1999) -
Eisner and colleagues headed for central Florida, where the rattlebox plant, a member of the genus Crotalaria, which is in the pea family, flourishes.
Academic text (1999) -
Summer sees the emergence of American goats rue and wild indigo, both classified within the pea family, which are known for their vibrant flowers.
Synonyms
1
3.6
A group of plants like peas and beans that grow in pods
1
8.9
A family of flowering plants like peas and beans that make seed pods
A large group of plants like beans or peas that have pods with seeds
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase 'pea family' is a straightforward composition of 'pea' (a type of plant) and 'family' (a group or taxonomic grouping), so its meaning as a group of related plants that includes peas is directly derivable from the parts. Although it names a scientific taxon, the compositional logic is transparent and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
The noun pea family comes from the simple image of the common pea and a family of plants that make similar bean pods. People long ago grouped plants like peas, beans, and lentils because they all produce those pods, so today pea family means that whole group of related plants.