Definition

Noun: 1. A large, widely distributed family of chiefly perennial herbs or climbers: This term refers to a botanical family (Commelinaceae) of flowering plants, commonly known for species like spiderworts. Members of this family are typically herbaceous (non-woody), live for multiple years (perennial), and often have succulent stems and showy, three-petaled flowers.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The spiderwort family includes many popular houseplants due to their attractive foliage and ease of care.
  • Botanists study the spiderwort family to understand the evolution of monocotyledonous plants.
  • A key characteristic of the spiderwort family is the presence of mucilaginous sap in the stems and leaves.

Advanced Usage

• In botanical taxonomy: The term is used in scientific and horticultural contexts to classify and describe a specific group of plants. It is synonymous with the formal family name .
  • The genus Tradescantia is one of the most well-known within the spiderwort family.

Variants and Related Words

• Commelinaceae (n): The formal, scientific Latin name for the spiderwort family.
• Spiderwort (n): A common name for plants in the genus , which belongs to the spiderwort family.
• Wandering Jew (n): A common name for specific trailing species within the spiderwort family (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Commelinaceae: This is the direct scientific synonym.

Notes on Meaning

This term has a single, specific meaning in botany. It does not have idiomatic or phrasal verb uses, as it is a fixed scientific classification term.

Noun

1. large widely distributed family of chiefly perennial herbs or climbers: spiderworts