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Glite Dictionary
witch-hazel family

witch-hazel family

8.6
A group of trees and shrubs that have flowers, including witch-hazel and sweetgum
  • noun
  • /ˈwɪtʃˌheɪzl ˈfæmɪli/
  • Specialized
translation icon : familia de hamamelis
  • The witch-hazel family includes many beautiful flowering plants.

Examples

  • Liquidambar, commonly called sweetgum, is a genus in the witch-hazel family.

  • Several members of the witch-hazel family produce fragrant flowers in early spring.

  • The witch-hazel family consists of trees and shrubs known for their ornamental value.

  • I planted a witch-hazel family shrub in my garden last spring.

  • The witch-hazel family includes several beautiful plants known for their unique flowers.

  • In the garden, I love to see specimens from the witch-hazel family blooming every spring.

  • Plants from the witch-hazel family, such as Hamamelis, are often used for their medicinal properties.

Synonyms

Hamamelidaceae
vswitch-hazel family
  • Specialized
9.9

A family of flowering plants that includes witch hazel and other shrubs and trees

is the common name for the same family used in general speech
family Hamamelidaceae
vswitch-hazel family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of flowering plants that includes witch-hazels and other similar trees and shrubs

is the everyday descriptive name rather than a formal family label

Surface Forms

witch-hazel family singular
witch-hazel families plural

Morphology

witch-hazel + family

The phrase is compositionally built: 'witch-hazel' names a plant and 'family' denotes a group or taxonomic category, so 'witch-hazel family' straightforwardly means the family of plants that includes witch-hazel. This noun + family construction is a common, cross-linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can infer the intended botanical grouping.

Etymology

Witch-hazel family comes from a common shrub called witch-hazel. One popular story says people used the flexible twigs of witch-hazel as a stick to find underground water, so the word witch here linked to 'divining' rather than to real witches. That's why this group of related trees and shrubs is called the 'witch-hazel family'.