Definition

1. Noun:
   • Family of usually succulent herbs; cosmopolitan in distribution especially in Americas: The "purslane family" is the common name for the plant family Portulacaceae. It refers to a taxonomic group of flowering plants characterized by fleshy, water-storing leaves and stems (succulent herbs). These plants are found worldwide but are especially diverse in the Americas.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Common purslane, a nutritious edible weed, belongs to the purslane family.
  • Botanists study the evolutionary traits of the purslane family.
  • Several species in the purslane family are popular as drought-tolerant ornamental plants.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical taxonomy: The term is used to refer to the family Portulacaceae in informal or common language contexts, as opposed to the formal Latin name.
  • The classification of some genera within the purslane family has been revised by modern genetic studies.

Variants and Related Words

• Portulacaceae (n): The formal, scientific Latin name for the purslane family.
• Purslane (n): A common name for plants within this family, especially .

Synonyms

• Portulacaceae: The direct scientific synonym.

Notes on Meaning

• The "purslane family" specifically denotes a biological family. It is not used idiomatically or in phrasal verbs. Its meaning is fixed within the context of botany and horticulture.

Noun

1. family of usually succulent herbs; cosmopolitan in distribution especially in Americas