Definition

Noun: 1. A family of flowering plants: "Caper family" is the common name for the plant family Capparaceae (or Capparidaceae), an order of dicotyledonous plants. It is characterized by herbs, shrubs, and trees, often with showy flowers and fruits that are typically berries or capsules. This family includes several genera known for their culinary, medicinal, or ornamental uses.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Botanists classify the genus Capparis within the caper family.
  • The caper family includes plants with diverse habitats, from tropical regions to deserts.
  • Some species in the caper family are cultivated for their edible flower buds or fruits.

Advanced Usage

• Taxonomic context: In scientific classification, the "caper family" refers specifically to the family . Its placement and the genera it includes have been revised over time, with some genera sometimes moved to related families like or .
  • Modern phylogenetic studies have led to a re-evaluation of the traditional caper family.

Variants and Related Words

• Capparaceae (n): The formal, scientific Latin name for the caper family.
  • The family Capparaceae is commonly known as the caper family.
• Capparis (n): The genus within this family that includes the caper bush (), whose pickled flower buds are the culinary capers.
• Cleome (n): A genus often included in this family, comprising herbaceous plants commonly known as spider flowers.

Synonyms

• Capparaceae family: The direct scientific synonym.
• Caper family of plants: A more descriptive synonym.

Related Terms (Contextual)

• Brassicaceae (n): The mustard family, a closely related plant family that shares some morphological features with the caper family.
• Rhoeadales (n): An older taxonomic order that included the caper family. In modern systems, it is often placed in the order .

Noun

1. a dilleniid dicot family of the order Rhoeadales that includes: genera Capparis, Cleome, Crateva, and Polanisia