| Name | Meaning 1 | Meaning (Alt) | Pronunciation | Pronunciation (Alt) |
| Acanthaceae | The Acanthus family (from the Greek ákantha, meaning thorn, spine, or spike) | | ah-kanth-AY-see-ee
| ah-kanth-AY-see-eye |
| Aceraceae | The Acer (maple) family; from the Latin word for acrid or sharp, referring to Maple's hardness and the ancient Roman use of the wood for spears | | ay-ser-AY-see-ee
| ay-ser-AY-see-eye |
| Actinidiaceae | The Actinidia family (from the Greek aktis (ray) referring to the styles of flowers) | | ak-tin-id-ee-AY-see-ee
| ak-tin-id-ee-AY-see-eye |
| Agavaceae | The Agave family (from the Greek word for noble) | | ah-gav-AY-see-ee
| ah-gav-AY-see-eye |
| Aizoaceae | Family name, meaning evergreen | | ay-zoh-AY-see-ee
| ay-zoh-AY-see-eye |
| Amaryllidaceae | The Amaryllis family, named for a shepherdess in Greek mythology, means sparkling | | am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-ee
| am-uh-ril-id-AY-see-eye |
| Apiaceae | The Apium (celery) family (formerly Umbelliferae) | | ay-pee-AY-see-ee
| ay-pee-AY-see-eye |
| Apocynaceae | Family name for the dogbane family; from the Greek apo (away from or away with) and kuon (dog) | | a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ee
| a-pos-ih-NAY-see-eye |
| Aquifoliaceae | The Holly family | | a-kwee-foh-lee-AY-see-ee
| a-kwee-foh-lee-AY-see-eye |
| Araceae | The Aroid or Arum family | | a-RAY-see-ee
| a-RAY-see-eye |
| Arecaceae | The Palm family (formerly Palmae) | | ar-ek-AY-see-ee
| ar-ek-AY-see-eye |
| Asclepiadaceae | The Asclepias (milkweed) family | | ass-kle-pee-ad-AY-see-ee
| ass-kle-pee-ad-AY-see-eye |
| Asphodelaceae | The Asphodelus family (a lily-like plant whose roots were eaten) | | as-foh-del-AY-see-ee
| as-foh-del-AY-see-eye |
| Asteraceae | The Aster (daisy) family; formerly Compositae | | ass-ter-AY-see-ee
| ass-ter-AY-see-eye |
| Begoniaceae | The Begonia family, named for Micheal Begon | | be-gon-ee-AY-see-ee
| be-gon-ee-AY-see-eye |
| Berberidaceae | The Berberis (barberry) genus | | bear-ber-id-AY-see-ee
| ber-ber-id-AY-see-eye |
| Betulaceae | The Betula (birches and alders) family | | beh-tyoo-LAY-see-ee
| beh-tyoo-LAY-see-eye |
| Bignoniaceae | The Bignonia family, named for the Abbe Jean Paul Bignon | | big-no-nih-AY-see-ee
| big-no-nih-AY-see-eye |
| Brassicaceae | The Brassica (cabbage) family, (formerly Cruciferae) | | brass-ih-KAY-see-ee
| brass-ih-KAY-see-eye |
| Bromeliaceae | The Bromelia (bromeliad) family, named for Olof (or Olaf) Bromel, 17th century Swedish botanist | | bro-mee-lee-AY-see-ee
| bro-mee-lee-AY-see-eye |
| Cactaceae | The Cactus family | | kak-TAY-see-ee
| kak-TAY-see-eye |
| Caesalpiniaceae | The Caesalpinia family (named for Andreas Caesalpini, 16th century Italian botanist) | | ses-al-pin-ee-AY-see-ee
| |
| Campanulaceae | The Campanula (bellflower) family | | kam-pan-yew-LAY-see-ee
| kam-pan-yew-LAY-see-eye |
| Cannaceae | The Canna family | | kan-AY-see-ee
| kan-AY-see-eye |
| Caryophyllaceae | The Pink family | | kar-ree-oh-fil-AY-see-ee
| kar-ree-oh-fil-AY-see-eye |
| Chenopodiaceae | The Goosefoot (Chenopodium) family | | ken-oh-poh-dee-AY-see-ee
| ken-oh-poh-dee-AY-see-eye |
| Commelinaceae | The Commelina family, named for two 17th century Dutch brothers, both botanists | | ko-mel-ih-NAY-see-ee
| ko-mel-ih-NAY-see-eye |
| Convolvulaceae | The Convolvulus family (from the Latin convolvere, meaning to twine around | | kon-volv-yoo-LAY-see-ee
| kon-volv-yoo-LAY-see-eye |
| Crassulaceae | The Crassula family, so named because of the thick leaves | | krass-yoo-LAY-see-ee
| krass-yoo-LAY-see-eye |
| Cucurbitaceae | The Cucurbita (gourd) family | | koo-ker-bih-TAY-see-ee
| koo-ker-bih-TAY-see-eye |
| Cupressaceae | The Cupressus (Italian cypress) family | | koo-press-AY-see-ee
| koo-press-AY-see-eye |
| Cyperaceae | The Cyperus (sedge) family | | sy-peer-AY-see-ee
| sy-peer-AY-see-eye |
| Ericaceae | The Erica (heather) family | | er-ek-AY-see-ee
| er-ek-AY-see-eye |
| Euphorbiaceae | The Euphorbia family, named for Euphorbus, Greek physician to Juba II, King of Mauretania | | yoo-for-bee-AY-see-ee
| yoo-for-bee-AY-see-eye |
| Fabaceae | The Faba (broad bean) family, (formerly Leguminosae) | | fab-AY-see-ee
| fab-AY-see-eye |
| Fagaceae | The Fagus (Beech) family | | fag-AY-see-ee
| fag-AY-see-eye |
| Fumariaceae | The Fumaria (fumitory) family; the name means earth smoke | | foo-mar-ee-AY-see-ee
| foo-mar-ee-AY-see-eye |
| Gentianaceae | The Gentian family; named for Gentius, 6th century king of Illyria | | jen-shun-AY-see-ee
| jen-shun-AY-see-eye |
| Geraniaceae | From the Greek geranos (crane), referring to the beak-like fruit | | jer-ay-nee-AY-see-ee
| jer-ay-nee-AY-see-eye |
| Gesneriaceae | The Gesneria family, named for Conrad von Gessner | | jes-ner-ee-AY-see-ee
| jes-ner-ee-AY-see-eye |
