acanthaceous

[ ak-uhn-they-shuhs ]

adjective

1. having prickly growths.
2. belonging to the plant family Acanthaceae.

acanthaceous

/ ˌækənˈθeɪʃəs /

adjective

1. of or relating to the Acanthaceae, a mainly tropical and subtropical family of flowering plants that includes the acanthus
2. having spiny or prickly outgrowths

Word History and Origins

Origin of acanthaceous¹

1745–55; < New Latin Acanthace ( ae ) ( acanthus, -aceae ) + -ous