Orchidaceae
/ˌɔːr.kɪˈdeɪ.si.iː/noun
A family of flowering plants that includes the orchids.
Did you know?The family name Orchidaceae ultimately traces back to Greek orchis, a word for “testicle,” because some early botanists thought certain orchid roots resembled them.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ὄρχις (órkhis)
“testicle; also the name of a plant with paired tubers”
Late Latin
Latin
orchis
“an orchid-like plant”
18th Century
New Latin
Orchidaceae
“the orchid family, a botanical family name formed for classification”
Modern English
English
orchidaceae
“the orchid family”