madder family

noun

1. the large plant family Rubiaceae, characterized by herbaceous plants, trees, and shrubs having simple, opposite, or whorled leaves, usually four- or five-lobed flowers, and fruit in the form of a berry, capsule, or nut, and including the gardenia, madder, partridgeberry, and shrubs and trees that are the source of coffee, ipecac, and quinine.

Example Sentences

Quin′sy-berr′y, the common black-currant; Quin′sy-wort, a small trailing British herb of the madder family.

From Project Gutenberg

Madd′er-lake, a colour mixed either with oil or water, made from madder; Madd′er-wort, any plant of the Rubiace or madder family.

From Project Gutenberg