spiderwort family

9.1

A large group of plants that usually live many years, like spiderworts

noun
/ˈspaɪdərˌwɔrt ˈfæmɪli/

Specialized

: familia de las tradescantias

The spiderwort family includes several ornamental plants valued for their colorful flowers.

Examples

Scientists are studying genetic diversity within the spiderwort family to improve crop resilience.
Many members of the spiderwort family thrive in humid, tropical environments.
The spiderwort family includes many colorful plants.
Many gardeners love the spiderwort family for its beauty.
Many members of the spiderwort family thrive in humid, tropical environments.
The spiderwort family includes several ornamental plants valued for their colorful flowers.
Scientists are studying genetic diversity within the spiderwort family to improve crop resilience.

Synonyms

Commelinaceae

vsspiderwort family

Specialized

9.9

A family of plants like spiderworts that grow every year and often climb

is the common family name used in everyday language

Surface Forms

spiderwort family singular

spiderwort families plural

Morphology

spiderwort + family

The meaning 'a family of plants related to spiderworts' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'spiderwort' (a type of plant) with 'family' (a grouping of related species). This noun + family taxonomic pattern is common in English and other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Spiderwort family combines the common plant name spiderwort and the word family, meaning a group of related plants. One popular story says spiderwort was named because the thin, hair-like parts of its flowers look like spider legs and 'wort' is an old word for 'plant', so the phrase means the group of plants related to those spiderworts.