Gesneriaceae (Noun)
Meaning
Large family of tropical herbs or shrubs or lianas; in some classification systems placed in the order Scrophulariales.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The Gesneriaceae family, commonly known as the African violet family, comprises over 150 genera with more than 3000 species found in the tropical regions of the world.
- In horticulture, plants belonging to the Gesneriaceae family are popular for their showy flowers, which range in color and texture, making them attractive additions to gardens and indoor spaces.
- Several members of the Gesneriaceae family, such as Saintpaulia ionantha, are grown as houseplants in temperate climates for their vibrant blooms and relatively low maintenance requirements.
- Studies suggest that the Gesneriaceae family may contain species useful for medicinal purposes, due to the variety and biodiversity of its members and their respective chemical compositions.
- Many botanists place the Gesneriaceae family in the order Lamiales, a different classification system than the order Scrophulariales, which is often used in some older systems of angiosperm classification.