apocynaceae
|a-po-cy-na-ceae|
/ˌæpəˈsaɪnəsiː/
dogbane family (family of flowering plants)
Etymology
'Apocynaceae' originates from New Latin, specifically from the genus name 'Apocynum' plus the Latin family-forming suffix '-aceae', where 'Apocynum' comes from Greek elements 'apo-' meaning 'away from' and 'kyon/kyōn' meaning 'dog'.
'Apocynaceae' changed from the Latinized genus name 'Apocynum' combined with the standard botanical suffix '-aceae' and eventually became the modern English family name 'Apocynaceae'.
Initially the root genus name referred to a plant associated with driving away or poisoning dogs ('away from dog' / toxic to dogs), but over time the term evolved into a systematic botanical family name denoting the dogbane family of flowering plants.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a botanical family of flowering plants commonly called the dogbane family, which includes genera such as Apocynum (dogbane), Nerium (oleander), and Vinca (periwinkle).
The Apocynaceae contains many ornamental and medicinal species, including oleander and periwinkle.
Last updated: 2025/09/19 05:04