# List of plant family names with etymologies

Since the first edition of Carl Linnaeus's Species Plantarum in 1753, plants have been assigned one epithet or name for their species and one name for their genus, a grouping of related species. Related genera are in turn grouped into families. Each family's formal name ends in the Latin suffix -aceae and is derived from the name of a genus that is or once was part of the family.
The table below contains seed-bearing families from Plants of the World by Maarten J. M. Christenhusz (lead author), Michael F. Fay and Mark W. Chase, with two updated families from Plants of the World Online. The second column gives the family's original type genus, unless that name is no longer accepted in taxonomic databases. The fourth column gives an associated meaning, derivation or person.

## Key

    LG: derived from a Greek word (G), a Latin word (L), another language (–), or a personal name (P)
    Ba: listed in Ross Bayton's The Gardener's Botanical
    Bu: listed in Lotte Burkhardt's Index of Eponymic Plant Names
    CS: listed in both Allen Coombes's The A to Z of Plant Names and William T. Stearn's Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners
    Gl: listed in David Gledhill's The Names of Plants
    Qu: listed in Umberto Quattrocchi's four-volume CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names
    St: listed in Stearn's Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners
    Linked numerical citations in the last column refer to Plants of the World.
Except for Plants of the World, these books list genera alphabetically. "Latin plant name" or "Greek plant name" in the fourth column means that the name appears in Classical Latin or Greek or both for some plant, not necessarily the plant listed here.

## Families

Families :
| Family | Original type genus | LG | Associated meaning, derivation or person | Order | Refs |
| Acanthaceae | Acanthus | G | thorns | Lamiales | CS |
| Achariaceae | Acharia | P | Erik Acharius (1757–1819) | Malpighiales | Bu |
| Achatocarpaceae | Achatocarpus | G | agate fruit | Caryophyllales | |
| Acoraceae | Acorus | L | Latin plant name | Acorales | CS |
| Actinidiaceae | Actinidia | G | radiating out from the center (the styles) | Ericales | CS |
| Aextoxicaceae | Aextoxicon | G | goat poison | Berberidopsidales | |
| Aizoaceae | Aizoon | G | always living (in a variety of habitats) | Caryophyllales | Gl |
| Akaniaceae | Akania | G | bractless, possibly | Brassicales | |
| Alismataceae | Alisma | G | Greek plant name | Alismatales | CS |
| Alseuosmiaceae | Alseuosmia | G | grove fragrance | Asterales | St |
| Alstroemeriaceae | Alstroemeria | P | Clas Alströmer (1736–1794) | Liliales | |
| Altingiaceae | — | P | Willem Arnold Alting (1724–1800), colonial administrator | Saxifragales | Bu |
| Alzateaceae | Alzatea | P | José Antonio de Alzate y Ramírez (d. 1795), cartographer | Myrtales | |
| Amaranthaceae | Amaranthus | G | unfading | Caryophyllales | CS |
| Amaryllidaceae | Amaryllis | G | Amaryllis, a Greek shepherdess from classical poetry | Asparagales | CS |
| Amborellaceae | Amborella | – | Malagasy plant name | Amborellales | |
| Anacampserotaceae | Anacampseros | G | Greek plant name | Caryophyllales | St |
| Anacardiaceae | Anacardium | G | Greek plant name | Sapindales | St |
| Ancistrocladaceae | Ancistrocladus | G | fish-hooked branches | Caryophyllales | |
| Anisophylleaceae | Anisophyllea | G | unequal leaves | Cucurbitales | |
| Annonaceae | Annona | – | Taíno plant name | Magnoliales | St |
| Aphanopetalaceae | Aphanopetalum | G | inconspicuous petals | Saxifragales | Gl |
| Aphloiaceae | Aphloia | G | unbarked | Crossosomatales | |
| Apiaceae | Apium | L | Latin plant name | Apiales | CS |
| Apocynaceae | Apocynum | G | Greek plant name | Gentianales | St |
| Apodanthaceae | Apodanthes | G | stalkless flowers | Cucurbitales | Qu |
| Aponogetonaceae | Aponogeton | L | near (hot springs at) Aponus (now Abano Terme) | Alismatales | St |
| Aquifoliaceae | — | L | Latin plant name | Aquifoliales | |
| Araceae | Arum | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Alismatales | CS |
| Araliaceae | Aralia | – | French-Canadian plant name | Apiales | CS |
| Araucariaceae | Araucaria | – | Araucanos (now Mapuche) | Pinales | CS |
| Arecaceae | Areca | – | Malabar plant name | Arecales | St |
| Argophyllaceae | Argophyllum | G | silver leaves | Asterales | |
| Aristolochiaceae | Aristolochia | G | best childbirth (for which some species used to be prescribed) | Piperales | CS |
| Asparagaceae | Asparagus | L | Latin plant name | Asparagales | CS |
| Asphodelaceae | Asphodeline | G | like Asphodelus | Asparagales | CS |
| Asteliaceae | Astelia | G | trunkless | Asparagales | Ba |
| Asteraceae | Aster | L | star | Asterales | CS |
| Asteropeiaceae | Asteropeia | G | Asteropeia, daughter of the mythological king Pelias | Caryophyllales | Bu |
| Atherospermataceae | Atherosperma | G | awned seeds, or a reference to the fruit | Laurales | St |
| Austrobaileyaceae | Austrobaileya | P | Frederick Manson Bailey (1827–1915) and Irving Widmer Bailey (1884–1967) | Austrobaileyales | |
| Balanopaceae | Balanops | G | acorn-like | Malpighiales | |
| Balanophoraceae | Balanophora | G | acorn-bearing (the shape of the male flower heads) | Santalales | |
| Balsaminaceae | — | G | Greek plant name | Ericales | Gl |
| Barbeuiaceae | Barbeuia | P | Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg (1709–1779) | Caryophyllales | |
| Barbeyaceae | Barbeya | P | William Barbey (1842–1914) | Rosales | |
| Basellaceae | Basella | – | Malabar plant name | Caryophyllales | St |
| Bataceae | Batis | G | walking | Brassicales | |
| Begoniaceae | Begonia | P | Michel Bégon (1638–1710), government official and plant collector | Cucurbitales | |
| Berberidaceae | Berberis | – | Arabic plant name | Ranunculales | CS |
| Berberidopsidaceae | Berberidopsis | – | like Berberis | Berberidopsidales | CS |
| Betulaceae | Betula | L | Latin plant name | Fagales | CS |
| Biebersteiniaceae | Biebersteinia | P | Friedrich August Marschall von Bieberstein (1768–1826) | Sapindales | |
| Bignoniaceae | Bignonia | P | Jean-Paul Bignon (1662–1743), statesman and royal librarian | Lamiales | |
| Bixaceae | Bixa | – | Carib plant name | Malvales | St |
| Blandfordiaceae | Blandfordia | P | George Spencer-Churchill, 5th Duke of Marlborough (1766–1840) | Asparagales | |
| Bonnetiaceae | Bonnetia | P | Charles Bonnet (1720–1793) | Malpighiales | |
| Boraginaceae | Borago | L | hairy clothes, possibly (the leaves) | Boraginales | CS |
| Boryaceae | Borya | P | Jean Baptiste Bory de Saint-Vincent (1778–1846) | Asparagales | Bu |
| Brassicaceae | Brassica | L | Latin plant name | Brassicales | CS |
| Bromeliaceae | Bromelia | P | Olof Bromelius (1639–1705), Swedish doctor and botanist | Poales | |
| Brunelliaceae | Brunellia | P | Gabriele Brunelli (1728–1797), Italian clergyman and botanist | Oxalidales | |
| Bruniaceae | Brunia | P | Alexander Brown (fl. 1692–1698), English doctor and plant collector | Bruniales | Qu |
| Burmanniaceae | Burmannia | P | Johannes Burman (1707–1780) | Dioscoreales | |
| Burseraceae | Bursera | P | Joachim Burser (1583–1639) | Sapindales | |
| Butomaceae | Butomus | G | ox-wounding (the inedible leaves harm cattle) | Alismatales | CS |
| Buxaceae | Buxus | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Buxales | CS |
| Byblidaceae | Byblis | G | Byblis, a mythological character | Lamiales | Bu |
| Cabombaceae | Cabomba | – | Guianese plant name | Nymphaeales | St |
| Cactaceae | — | G | Greek plant name | Caryophyllales | |
| Calceolariaceae | Calceolaria | G | slipper (the flowers) | Lamiales | CS |
| Calophyllaceae | Calophyllum | G | beautiful leaves | Malpighiales | St |
| Calycanthaceae | Calycanthus | G | calyx flower (the sepals are like the petals) | Laurales | CS |
| Calyceraceae | Calycera | G | calyx horn | Asterales | |
| Campanulaceae | Campanula | L | little bell (the flowers) | Asterales | CS |
| Campynemataceae | Campynema | G | bent thread | Liliales | |
| Canellaceae | Canella | G | little Canna | Canellales | St |
| Cannabaceae | Cannabis | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Rosales | St |
| Cannaceae | Canna | G | Greek plant name | Zingiberales | CS |
| Capparaceae | Capparis | G | Greek plant name | Brassicales | St |
| Caprifoliaceae | — | L | goat leaves | Dipsacales | |
| Cardiopteridaceae | Cardiopteris | G | heart wing or fern (the fruit) | Aquifoliales | Qu |
| Caricaceae | Carica | L | Latin plant name | Brassicales | St |
| Carlemanniaceae | Carlemannia | P | Charles Morgan Lemann (1806–1852) | Lamiales | Bu |
| Caryocaraceae | Caryocar | G | nut heart | Malpighiales | |
| Caryophyllaceae | — | G | clove | Caryophyllales | |
| Casuarinaceae | Casuarina | – | from a Malaysian word for cassowary | Fagales | St |
| Celastraceae | Celastrus | G | Greek plant name | Celastrales | CS |
| Centroplacaceae | Centroplacus | G | spurred and flat (the styles) | Malpighiales | Qu |
| Cephalotaceae | Cephalotus | G | head-like | Oxalidales | Gl |
| Ceratophyllaceae | Ceratophyllum | G | horned (antler-shaped) leaves | Ceratophyllales | CS |
| Cercidiphyllaceae | Cercidiphyllum | G | with leaves like Cercis siliquastrum | Saxifragales | CS |
| Chloranthaceae | Chloranthus | G | green flowers | Chloranthales | Ba |
| Chrysobalanaceae | Chrysobalanus | G | gold acorns | Malpighiales | St |
| Circaeasteraceae | Circaeaster | G | Circe, a mythological witch | Ranunculales | Bu |
| Cistaceae | Cistus | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Malvales | CS |
| Cleomaceae | Cleome | G | brilliance | Brassicales | St |
| Clethraceae | Clethra | G | Greek plant name | Ericales | CS |
| Clusiaceae | Clusia | P | Carolus Clusius (1526–1609) | Malpighiales | Bu |
| Colchicaceae | Colchicum | G | Colchis | Liliales | CS |
| Columelliaceae | Columellia | P | Columella (1st century) | Bruniales | Bu |
| Combretaceae | Combretum | L | Latin plant name | Myrtales | St |
| Commelinaceae | Commelina | P | Jan (1629–1692) and Caspar Commelijn (1667–1734) | Commelinales | CS |
| Connaraceae | Connarus | G | Greek plant name | Oxalidales | |
| Convolvulaceae | Convolvulus | L | twining | Solanales | CS |
| Coriariaceae | Coriaria | L | leather (for tanning) | Cucurbitales | CS |
| Cornaceae | Cornus | L | Latin plant name | Cornales | CS |
| Corsiaceae | Corsia | P | Bardo Corsi Salviati (1844–1907), Italian nobleman | Liliales | Bu |
| Corynocarpaceae | Corynocarpus | G | club fruit | Cucurbitales | St |
| Costaceae | Costus | L | Latin plant name | Zingiberales | St |
| Crassulaceae | Crassula | L | little thick (the leaves) | Saxifragales | CS |
| Crossosomataceae | Crossosoma | G | fringed body (the seeds) | Crossosomatales | |
| Crypteroniaceae | Crypteronia | G | hidden love (the small flowers) | Myrtales | |
| Ctenolophonaceae | Ctenolophon | G | comb hills | Malpighiales | |
| Cucurbitaceae | Cucurbita | L | Latin plant name | Cucurbitales | CS |
| Cunoniaceae | Cunonia | P | Johann Christian Cuno (b. 1708) | Oxalidales | Bu |
| Cupressaceae | Cupressus | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Pinales | CS |
| Curtisiaceae | Curtisia | P | William Curtis (1746–1799) | Cornales | Bu |
| Cycadaceae | Cycas | G | Greek plant name | Cycadales | CS |
| Cyclanthaceae | Cyclanthus | G | circle of flowers | Pandanales | St |
| Cymodoceaceae | Cymodocea | G | Cymodoce, a sea nymph | Alismatales | Bu |
| Cynomoriaceae | Cynomorium | G | dog penis | Saxifragales | |
| Cyperaceae | Cyperus | G | Greek plant name | Poales | CS |
| Cyrillaceae | Cyrilla | P | Domenico Cirillo (1739–1799) | Ericales | St |
| Cytinaceae | Cytinus | G | part of a pomegranate | Malvales | |
| Daphniphyllaceae | Daphniphyllum | G | leaves like Daphne | Saxifragales | CS |
| Dasypogonaceae | Dasypogon | G | hairy beard | Arecales | |
| Datiscaceae | Datisca | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Cucurbitales | CS |
| Degeneriaceae | Degeneria | P | Otto Degener (1899–1988) | Magnoliales | Bu |
| Diapensiaceae | Diapensia | G | Greek plant name | Ericales | St |
| Dichapetalaceae | Dichapetalum | G | two-part petals | Malpighiales | |
| Didiereaceae | Didierea | P | Alfred Grandidier (1836–1921) | Caryophyllales | Ba |
| Dilleniaceae | Dillenia | P | Johann Jacob Dillenius (1684–1747) | Dilleniales | |
| Dioncophyllaceae | Dioncophyllum | G | two-hooked leaves | Caryophyllales | |
| Dioscoreaceae | Dioscorea | P | Pedanius Dioscorides (c. 40 – c. 90) | Dioscoreales | |
| Dipentodontaceae | Dipentodon | G | two groups of five teeth (on the sepals and petals) | Huerteales | |
| Dipterocarpaceae | Dipterocarpus | G | two-winged fruit | Malvales | |
| Dirachmaceae | Dirachma | – | Socotran name, possibly | Rosales | |
| Doryanthaceae | Doryanthes | G | spear of flowers | Asparagales | St |
| Droseraceae | Drosera | G | dew (the secretions) | Caryophyllales | St |
| Drosophyllaceae | Drosophyllum | G | dewy leaves | Caryophyllales | |
| Ebenaceae | — | G | Greek plant name | Ericales | |
| Ecdeiocoleaceae | Ecdeiocolea | G | binding sheath (the scaly leaves) | Poales | |
| Elaeagnaceae | Elaeagnus | G | Greek plant name | Rosales | CS |
| Elaeocarpaceae | Elaeocarpus | G | olive (oil) fruit | Oxalidales | St |
| Elatinaceae | Elatine | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Malpighiales | St |
| Emblingiaceae | Emblingia | P | Thomas Embling (1814–1893), doctor | Brassicales | Qu |
| Ephedraceae | Ephedra | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Ephedrales | St |
| Ericaceae | Erica | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Ericales | CS |
| Eriocaulaceae | Eriocaulon | G | woolly stem | Poales | |
| Erythroxylaceae | Erythroxylum | G | red wood | Malpighiales | St |
| Escalloniaceae | Escallonia | P | Antonio José Escallón y Flórez (1739–1819), Spanish official and plant-hunter in South America | Escalloniales | |
| Eucommiaceae | Eucommia | G | good gum | Garryales | St |
| Euphorbiaceae | Euphorbia | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Malpighiales | CS |
| Euphroniaceae | Euphronia | P | Euphronis, ancient writer on cultivation | Malpighiales | Bu |
| Eupomatiaceae | Eupomatia | G | well-capped | Magnoliales | |
| Eupteleaceae | Euptelea | G | good elm | Ranunculales | St |
| Fabaceae | — | L | Latin plant name | Fabales | |
| Fagaceae | Fagus | L | Latin plant name | Fagales | CS |
| Flagellariaceae | Flagellaria | G | whip-like (tendrils) | Poales | |
| Fouquieriaceae | Fouquieria | P | Pierre Fouquier (1776–1850), doctor | Ericales | |
| Francoaceae | Francoa | P | Francisco Franco (c. 1515 – c. 1569), Spanish doctor | Geraniales | |
| Frankeniaceae | Frankenia | P | Johann Francke (1590–1661), Swedish botanist | Caryophyllales | |
| Garryaceae | Garrya | P | Nicholas Garry (c. 1782 – 1856), merchant and trader | Garryales | |
| Geissolomataceae | Geissoloma | G | tiled fringe (the petals) | Crossosomatales | Qu |
| Gelsemiaceae | Gelsemium | – | Italian plant name | Gentianales | CS |
| Gentianaceae | Gentiana | P | Gentius (d. 168 BC), king | Gentianales | |
| Geraniaceae | Geranium | L | crane (the fruit). Greek and Latin name. | Geraniales | CS |
| Gerrardinaceae | Gerrardina | P | William Tyrer Gerrard (c. 1831 – 1866) | Huerteales | Qu |
| Gesneriaceae | Gesneria | P | Conrad Gessner (1516–1565) | Lamiales | St |
| Ginkgoaceae | Ginkgo | – | Chinese and Japanese plant name | Ginkgoales | CS |
| Gisekiaceae | Gisekia | P | Paul Dietrich Giseke (1741–1796) | Caryophyllales | Qu |
| Gnetaceae | Gnetum | – | Maluku or Malay plant name | Gnetales | |
| Gomortegaceae | Gomortega | P | Casimiro Gómez Ortega (1741–1818) | Laurales | Bu |
| Goodeniaceae | Goodenia | P | Samuel Goodenough (1743–1827) | Asterales | |
| Goupiaceae | Goupia | – | Ndyuka plant name | Malpighiales | |
| Griseliniaceae | Griselinia | P | Francesco Griselini (1717–1783), Italian botanist | Apiales | |
| Grossulariaceae | — | L | Latin plant name | Saxifragales | |
| Grubbiaceae | Grubbia | P | Michael Grubb (1728–1808), Swedish botanist, plant collector and mineralogist | Cornales | Qu |
| Guamatelaceae | Guamatela | – | anagram of Guatemala | Crossosomatales | |
| Gunneraceae | Gunnera | P | Johan Ernst Gunnerus (1718–1773) | Gunnerales | |
| Gyrostemonaceae | Gyrostemon | G | round stamens | Brassicales | |
| Haemodoraceae | Haemodorum | G | blood gift | Commelinales | |
| Halophytaceae | Halophytum | G | salt plant | Caryophyllales | |
| Haloragaceae | Haloragis | G | salt berries | Saxifragales | |
| Hamamelidaceae | Hamamelis | G | Greek plant name | Saxifragales | CS |
| Hanguanaceae | Hanguana | – | Indonesian plant name | Commelinales | |
| Heliconiaceae | Heliconia | L | Latin name, from Mount Helicon | Zingiberales | St |
| Helwingiaceae | Helwingia | P | Georg Andreas Helwing (1666–1748) | Aquifoliales | |
| Hernandiaceae | Hernandia | P | Francisco Hernández de Toledo (1514–1587) | Laurales | Qu |
| Himantandraceae | — | G | strap-like male parts | Magnoliales | |
| Huaceae | Hua | P | Henri Hua (1861–1919), French botanist | Oxalidales | Bu |
| Humiriaceae | Humiria | – | Carib plant name | Malpighiales | |
| Hydatellaceae | — | G | little water (plant) | Nymphaeales | |
| Hydrangeaceae | Hydrangea | G | water container (the cup-shaped capsules) | Cornales | CS |
| Hydrocharitaceae | Hydrocharis | G | water grace | Alismatales | St |
| Hydroleaceae | Hydrolea | G | water olive | Solanales | St |
| Hydrostachyaceae | Hydrostachys | G | water spike | Cornales | |
| Hypericaceae | Hypericum | G | Greek plant name | Malpighiales | |
| Hypoxidaceae | Hypoxis | G | Greek plant name | Asparagales | St |
| Icacinaceae | Icacina | – | Arawak name, originally | Icacinales | |
| Iridaceae | Iris | G | rainbow (the flowers) | Asparagales | CS |
| Irvingiaceae | Irvingia | P | Edward Irving (1816–1855) | Malpighiales | Qu |
| Iteaceae | Itea | G | Greek plant name | Saxifragales | CS |
| Ixioliriaceae | Ixiolirion | G | Ixia + lily | Asparagales | St |
| Ixonanthaceae | Ixonanthes | G | sticky flowers | Malpighiales | Gl |
| Joinvilleaceae | Joinvillea | P | François d'Orléans, Prince of Joinville (1818–1900) | Poales | Bu |
| Juglandaceae | Juglans | L | Latin plant name | Fagales | CS |
| Juncaceae | Juncus | L | binding. Latin name. | Poales | CS |
| Juncaginaceae | — | L | Latin plant name | Alismatales | |
| Kewaceae | Kewa | – | Kew, London, England | Caryophyllales | |
| Kirkiaceae | Kirkia | P | John Kirk (1832–1922) | Sapindales | Bu |
| Koeberliniaceae | Koeberlinia | P | Christoph Ludwig Köberlin (1794–1862), German botanist and clergyman | Brassicales | Bu |
| Krameriaceae | Krameria | P | Wilhelm Heinrich Kramer (1724–1765) | Zygophyllales | |
| Lacistemataceae | Lacistema | L | torn + Greek: stamens | Malpighiales | |
| Lamiaceae | Lamium | L | Latin name: open mouth (the flowers) | Lamiales | CS |
| Lanariaceae | Lanaria | G | woolly | Asparagales | |
| Lardizabalaceae | Lardizabala | P | Manuel de Lardizábal y Uribe (1744–1824), politician | Ranunculales | |
| Lauraceae | Laurus | L | Latin plant name | Laurales | CS |
| Lecythidaceae | Lecythis | G | oil pot (the shape of the fruit) | Ericales | |
| Lentibulariaceae | — | G | lentil-shaped bladders, probably | Lamiales | |
| Lepidobotryaceae | Lepidobotrys | G | scale clusters | Celastrales | |
| Liliaceae | Lilium | L | Latin plant name | Liliales | CS |
| Limeaceae | Limeum | L | path (some habitats) | Caryophyllales | |
| Limnanthaceae | Limnanthes | G | marsh flowers | Brassicales | St |
| Linaceae | Linum | L | Latin plant name | Malpighiales | CS |
| Linderniaceae | Lindernia | P | Franz Balthasar von Lindern (1682–1755), French doctor and botanist | Lamiales | Bu |
| Loasaceae | Loasa | – | probably a South American plant name | Cornales | St |
| Loganiaceae | Logania | P | James Logan (1674–1751) | Gentianales | |
| Lophiocarpaceae | Lophiocarpus | G | small-crested fruit | Caryophyllales | |
| Lophopyxidaceae | Lophopyxis | G | crested box (the fruit) | Malpighiales | |
| Loranthaceae | Loranthus | L | strap + Greek: flowers | Santalales | |
| Lowiaceae | Lowia | P | Hugh Lowe (1824–1905), English colonial administrator and naturalist | Zingiberales | Bu |
| Lythraceae | Lythrum | G | bloody (the flowers) | Myrtales | CS |
| Macarthuriaceae | Macarthuria | P | William Macarthur (1800–1882) | Caryophyllales | Qu |
| Magnoliaceae | Magnolia | P | Pierre Magnol (1638–1715) | Magnoliales | |
| Malpighiaceae | Malpighia | P | Marcello Malpighi (1628–1694) | Malpighiales | |
| Malvaceae | Malva | L | Latin plant name | Malvales | CS |
| Marantaceae | Maranta | P | Bartolomeo Maranta (1500–1571) | Zingiberales | |
| Marcgraviaceae | Marcgravia | P | Georg Marcgrave (1610–1644) | Ericales | Qu |
| Martyniaceae | Martynia | P | John Martyn (1699–1768) | Lamiales | |
| Maundiaceae | Maundia | P | John Maund (1823–1858), English-born Australian doctor and chemist | Alismatales | Bu |
| Mayacaceae | Mayaca | – | French Guianese plant name | Poales | St |
| Mazaceae | Mazus | G | teat, for swellings on the lower lip of the flowers | Lamiales | CS |
| Melanthiaceae | Melanthium | G | dark flowers | Liliales | St |
| Melastomataceae | Melastoma | G | black mouth (the berries stain the mouth when eaten) | Myrtales | St |
| Meliaceae | Melia | G | Greek plant name | Sapindales | CS |
| Menispermaceae | Menispermum | G | moon seeds | Ranunculales | St |
| Menyanthaceae | Menyanthes | G | Greek name: small flowers or moon flowers | Asterales | CS |
| Metteniusaceae | Metteniusa | P | Georg Heinrich Mettenius (1823–1866) | Metteniusales | Bu |
| Microteaceae | Microtea | G | smallness, probably | Caryophyllales | |
| Misodendraceae | Misodendrum | G | hating trees | Santalales | |
| Mitrastemonaceae | Mitrastemon | G | miter + stamens | Ericales | |
| Molluginaceae | Mollugo | G | soft | Caryophyllales | |
| Monimiaceae | Monimia | P | Monime (d. 71 BC), a queen of Pontus | Laurales | Bu |
| Montiaceae | Montia | P | Giuseppe Monti (1682–1760) | Caryophyllales | |
| Montiniaceae | Montinia | P | Lars Jonasson Montin (1723–1785), Swedish botanist and doctor | Solanales | Bu |
| Moraceae | Morus | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Rosales | CS |
| Moringaceae | Moringa | – | Latinised Tamil plant name | Brassicales | St |
| Muntingiaceae | Muntingia | P | Abraham Munting (1626–1683) | Malvales | Bu |
| Musaceae | Musa | – | Latinised Arabic plant name | Zingiberales | St |
| Myodocarpaceae | Myodocarpus | G | mouse (-eared) fruit | Apiales | |
| Myricaceae | Myrica | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Fagales | CS |
| Myristicaceae | Myristica | G | fragrant ointment | Magnoliales | St |
| Myrothamnaceae | Myrothamnus | G | perfume bush | Gunnerales | |
| Myrtaceae | Myrtus | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Myrtales | CS |
| Nartheciaceae | Narthecium | G | Greek plant name | Dioscoreales | St |
| Nelumbonaceae | Nelumbo | – | Sinhalese plant name | Proteales | St |
| Nepenthaceae | Nepenthes | G | antidepressant | Caryophyllales | St |
| Neuradaceae | Neurada | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Malvales | Qu |
| Nitrariaceae | Nitraria | G | niter (found in the habitat) | Sapindales | |
| Nothofagaceae | Nothofagus | L | false Fagus | Fagales | CS |
| Nyctaginaceae | — | G | night (flowering) | Caryophyllales | |
| Nymphaeaceae | Nymphaea | G | water nymphs | Nymphaeales | CS |
| Nyssaceae | Nyssa | G | Nysa, a water nymph | Cornales | CS |
| Ochnaceae | Ochna | G | Greek plant name | Malpighiales | St |
| Olacaceae | Olax | L | scented (wood) | Santalales | |
| Oleaceae | Olea | L | Latin plant name | Lamiales | CS |
| Onagraceae | — | G | onager (fodder) | Myrtales | |
| Oncothecaceae | Oncotheca | G | bulky box (the anthers) | Icacinales | Qu |
| Opiliaceae | Opilia | – | (unknown) | Santalales | |
| Orchidaceae | Orchis | G | testicle (the root tubers) | Asparagales | St |
| Orobanchaceae | Orobanche | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Lamiales | St |
| Oxalidaceae | Oxalis | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Oxalidales | CS |
| Paeoniaceae | Paeonia | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Saxifragales | CS |
| Pandaceae | Panda | P | Paul Panda Farnana (1888–1930) | Malpighiales | |
| Pandanaceae | Pandanus | – | Malay plant name | Pandanales | St |
| Papaveraceae | Papaver | L | Latin plant name | Ranunculales | CS |
| Paracryphiaceae | Paracryphia | G | almost hidden | Paracryphiales | Qu |
| Passifloraceae | Passiflora | L | Latin: passion flowers | Malpighiales | CS |
| Paulowniaceae | Paulownia | P | Anna Pavlovna of Russia (1795–1865) | Lamiales | |
| Pedaliaceae | Pedalium | G | rudder | Lamiales | |
| Penaeaceae | Penaea | P | Pierre Pena (1535–1605), French doctor and botanist | Myrtales | Bu |
| Pennantiaceae | Pennantia | P | Thomas Pennant (1726–1798) | Apiales | Bu |
| Pentadiplandraceae | Pentadiplandra | G | five double male parts (the ten stamens, usually) | Brassicales | |
| Pentaphragmataceae | Pentaphragma | G | five fences (around the ovaries) | Asterales | Qu |
| Pentaphylacaceae | Pentaphylax | G | five guardians (the stamens) | Ericales | Qu |
| Penthoraceae | Penthorum | G | five (sections per fruit) | Saxifragales | |
| Peraceae | Pera | G | pouch (the fruits) | Malpighiales | |
| Peridiscaceae | Peridiscus | G | around the disk (the stamens) | Saxifragales | Qu |
| Petenaeaceae | Petenaea | – | Lake Petén Itzá | Huerteales | |
| Petermanniaceae | Petermannia | P | August Heinrich Petermann (1822–1878), cartographer | Liliales | Bu |
| Petiveriaceae | Petiveria | P | James Petiver (c. 1660 – 1718) | Caryophyllales | |
| Petrosaviaceae | Petrosavia | P | Pietro Savi (1811–1871), Italian professor of botany | Petrosaviales | Bu |
| Phellinaceae | Phelline | G | corky (the fruits and seeds) | Asterales | Qu |
| Philesiaceae | Philesia | G | loving | Liliales | St |
| Philydraceae | Philydrum | G | friend of water | Commelinales | |
| Phrymaceae | Phryma | G | toad, possibly | Lamiales | |
| Phyllanthaceae | Phyllanthus | G | leaf-flowers (the source of some flowers) | Malpighiales | St |
| Phyllonomaceae | Phyllonoma | G | leaf meadow (the flowers sprouting from the leaves) | Aquifoliales | Qu |
| Physenaceae | Physena | G | inflated (the fruit) | Caryophyllales | Qu |
| Phytolaccaceae | Phytolacca | G | plant lac | Caryophyllales | CS |
| Picramniaceae | Picramnia | G | bitter bush | Picramniales | |
| Picrodendraceae | Picrodendron | G | bitter tree | Malpighiales | |
| Pinaceae | Pinus | L | Latin plant name | Pinales | CS |
| Piperaceae | Piper | L | Latin name, from Sanskrit and Greek names | Piperales | St |
| Pittosporaceae | Pittosporum | G | tar seeds | Apiales | CS |
| Plantaginaceae | Plantago | L | Latin plant name | Lamiales | CS |
| Platanaceae | Platanus | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Proteales | CS |
| Plocospermataceae | Plocosperma | G | tufted seeds | Lamiales | |
| Plumbaginaceae | Plumbago | L | Latin plant name | Caryophyllales | CS |
| Poaceae | Poa | G | Greek plant name | Poales | CS |
| Podocarpaceae | Podocarpus | G | stalked fruit | Pinales | CS |
| Podostemaceae | Podostemum | G | foot stamens | Malpighiales | Gl |
| Polemoniaceae | Polemonium | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Ericales | CS |
| Polygalaceae | Polygala | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Fabales | CS |
| Polygonaceae | Polygonum | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Caryophyllales | St |
| Pontederiaceae | Pontederia | P | Giulio Pontedera (1688–1757) | Commelinales | |
| Portulacaceae | Portulaca | L | Latin plant name | Caryophyllales | St |
| Posidoniaceae | Posidonia | G | Poseidon, a god | Alismatales | Bu |
| Potamogetonaceae | Potamogeton | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Alismatales | St |
| Primulaceae | Primula | L | Medieval Latin plant name | Ericales | CS |
| Proteaceae | Protea | G | Proteus of mythology | Proteales | St |
| Putranjivaceae | Putranjiva | – | Sanskrit plant name | Malpighiales | |
| Quillajaceae | Quillaja | – | Chilean plant name | Fabales | St |
| Rafflesiaceae | Rafflesia | P | Stamford Raffles (1781–1826) | Malpighiales | |
| Ranunculaceae | Ranunculus | L | Latin: little frog (some species are aquatic) | Ranunculales | CS |
| Rapateaceae | Rapatea | – | French Guianese name, probably | Poales | |
| Resedaceae | Reseda | L | Latin plant name | Brassicales | St |
| Restionaceae | Restio | L | rope-maker | Poales | Ba |
| Rhabdodendraceae | Rhabdodendron | G | rod tree | Caryophyllales | |
| Rhamnaceae | Rhamnus | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Rosales | CS |
| Rhizophoraceae | Rhizophora | G | root-bearing | Malpighiales | |
| Ripogonaceae | Ripogonum | G | wicker knees (the many joints on the tangled stalks) | Liliales | St |
| Roridulaceae | Roridula | G | dewy (leaves) | Ericales | Gl |
| Rosaceae | Rosa | L | Latin plant name | Rosales | CS |
| Rousseaceae | Roussea | P | Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), Enlightenment philosopher | Asterales | Bu |
| Rubiaceae | Rubia | L | red (the roots, used in dyeing) | Gentianales | St |
| Ruppiaceae | Ruppia | P | Heinrich Bernhard Ruppius (1688–1719) | Alismatales | Qu |
| Rutaceae | Ruta | L | Latin plant name | Sapindales | CS |
| Sabiaceae | Sabia | – | Hindi plant name | Proteales | |
| Salicaceae | Salix | L | Latin plant name | Malpighiales | CS |
| Salvadoraceae | Salvadora | P | Jaime Salvador y Pedrol (1649–1740), Spanish apothecary | Brassicales | Bu |
| Santalaceae | Santalum | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Santalales | St |
| Sapindaceae | Sapindus | L | soap of India | Sapindales | St |
| Sapotaceae | — | – | Nahuatl plant name | Ericales | |
| Sarcobataceae | Sarcobatus | G | fleshy thorn bush | Caryophyllales | Gl |
| Sarcolaenaceae | Sarcolaena | G | flesh cloak | Malvales | |
| Sarraceniaceae | Sarracenia | P | Michel Sarrazin (1659–1736) | Ericales | |
| Saururaceae | Saururus | G | lizard tail | Piperales | St |
| Saxifragaceae | Saxifraga | L | stone-breaking | Saxifragales | CS |
| Scheuchzeriaceae | Scheuchzeria | P | Johann Gaspar Scheuchzer (1684–1738) and his brother Johann Jacob Scheuchzer (1672–1733) | Alismatales | Bu |
| Schisandraceae | Schisandra | G | divided male parts (the anthers) | Austrobaileyales | CS |
| Schlegeliaceae | Schlegelia | P | Hermann Schlegel (1804–1884) | Lamiales | Bu |
| Schoepfiaceae | Schoepfia | P | Johann David Schoepff (1752–1800) | Santalales | Bu |
| Sciadopityaceae | Sciadopitys | G | umbel or parasol + pine or fir (the leaves) | Pinales | CS |
| Scrophulariaceae | Scrophularia | L | (supposed cure for) scrofula | Lamiales | St |
| Setchellanthaceae | Setchellanthus | P | William Albert Setchell (1864–1943) | Brassicales | Bu |
| Simaroubaceae | Simarouba | – | Carib plant name | Sapindales | |
| Simmondsiaceae | Simmondsia | P | Thomas William Simmonds (1767–1804), English doctor and naturalist | Caryophyllales | Ba |
| Siparunaceae | Siparuna | – | French Guianese plant name | Laurales | |
| Sladeniaceae | Sladenia | P | Edward Bosc Sladen (1827–1890), army officer | Ericales | Bu |
| Smilacaceae | Smilax | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Liliales | CS |
| Solanaceae | Solanum | L | Latin plant name | Solanales | CS |
| Sphaerosepalaceae | — | G | spherical sepals | Malvales | |
| Sphenocleaceae | Sphenoclea | G | closed wedge (the fruit capsules) | Solanales | |
| Stachyuraceae | Stachyurus | G | spike tail (the inflorescences) | Crossosomatales | CS |
| Staphyleaceae | Staphylea | G | clusters (of flowers) | Crossosomatales | CS |
| Stegnospermataceae | Stegnosperma | G | seeds covered (by arilla) | Caryophyllales | |
| Stemonaceae | Stemona | G | stamens | Pandanales | |
| Stemonuraceae | Stemonurus | G | stamen tail | Aquifoliales | |
| Stilbaceae | Stilbe | G | shining | Lamiales | |
| Strasburgeriaceae | Strasburgeria | P | Eduard Strasburger (1844–1912) | Crossosomatales | Bu |
| Strelitziaceae | Strelitzia | P | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (1744–1818) | Zingiberales | |
| Stylidiaceae | Stylidium | G | little pillar (the style and stamens form a column) | Asterales | St |
| Styracaceae | Styrax | L | Greek and Latin name, from an Arabic plant name | Ericales | CS |
| Surianaceae | Suriana | P | Joseph Donat Surian (1650–1691), French doctor, chemist and botanist | Fabales | Bu |
| Symplocaceae | Symplocos | G | combination (the unified stamens) | Ericales | St |
| Talinaceae | Talinum | – | (unclear) | Caryophyllales | Ba |
| Tamaricaceae | Tamarix | L | Latin plant name | Caryophyllales | CS |
| Tapisciaceae | Tapiscia | – | anagram of Pistacia | Huerteales | |
| Taxaceae | Taxus | L | Latin plant name | Pinales | CS |
| Tecophilaeaceae | Tecophilaea | P | Tecophila Billotti (1802 or 1803 – 1885 or 1886), Italian botanical artist | Asparagales | |
| Tetracarpaeaceae | Tetracarpaea | G | four-fruited | Saxifragales | |
| Tetrachondraceae | Tetrachondra | G | four-cartilaged | Lamiales | Qu |
| Tetramelaceae | Tetrameles | G | four parts (the sepals) | Cucurbitales | |
| Tetrameristaceae | Tetramerista | G | four-part (flowers) | Ericales | |
| Theaceae | — | – | Chinese plant name | Ericales | |
| Thomandersiaceae | Thomandersia | P | Thomas Anderson (1832–1870) | Lamiales | Bu |
| Thurniaceae | Thurnia | P | Everard im Thurn (1852–1932) | Poales | Bu |
| Thymelaeaceae | Thymelaea | G | poison olive | Malvales | |
| Ticodendraceae | Ticodendron | G | Tico tree | Fagales | |
| Tofieldiaceae | Tofieldia | P | Thomas Tofield (1730–1779), English hydrological engineer and botanist | Alismatales | Bu |
| Torricelliaceae | Torricellia | P | Evangelista Torricelli (1608–1647), physicist and mathematician | Apiales | Bu |
| Tovariaceae | Tovaria | P | Simón de Tovar, Spanish doctor and botanist | Brassicales | Bu |
| Trigoniaceae | Trigonia | G | triangular (the fruit) | Malpighiales | |
| Trimeniaceae | Trimenia | P | Henry Trimen (1843–1896) | Austrobaileyales | Bu |
| Triuridaceae | Triuris | G | three tails | Pandanales | |
| Trochodendraceae | Trochodendron | G | wheel (of stamens) + tree | Trochodendrales | CS |
| Tropaeolaceae | Tropaeolum | G | trophy | Brassicales | CS |
| Typhaceae | Typha | L | Greek and Latin plant name | Poales | CS |
| Ulmaceae | Ulmus | L | Latin plant name | Rosales | CS |
| Urticaceae | Urtica | L | Latin plant name | Rosales | St |
| Vahliaceae | Vahlia | P | Martin Vahl (1749–1804) | Vahliales | Qu |
| Velloziaceae | Vellozia | P | Joaquim Velloso de Miranda (1733–1815), Brazilian clergyman and plant collector | Pandanales | Bu |
| Verbenaceae | Verbena | L | ceremonial plant | Lamiales | CS |
| Viburnaceae | Viburnum | L | Latin name. Previously Adoxaceae. | Dipsacales | CS |
| Violaceae | Viola | L | Latin plant name | Malpighiales | CS |
| Vitaceae | Vitis | L | Latin plant name | Vitales | CS |
| Vochysiaceae | Vochysia | – | Carib plant name | Myrtales | |
| Welwitschiaceae | Welwitschia | P | Friedrich Welwitsch (1806–1872) | Welwitschiales | |
| Winteraceae | Wintera | P | John Winter (16th century), ship captain | Canellales | Bu |
| Xeronemataceae | Xeronema | G | dry thread | Asparagales | |
| Xyridaceae | Xyris | G | razor (the leaves) | Poales | |
| Zamiaceae | Zamia | L | from a Latin plant name | Cycadales | CS |
| Zingiberaceae | Zingiber | L | Greek and Latin name, from a Sanskrit plant name | Zingiberales | St |
| Zosteraceae | Zostera | G | belt | Alismatales | |
| Zygophyllaceae | Zygophyllum | G | yoked leaves | Zygophyllales | |