gesneriad

noun

ges·​ne·​ri·​ad ges-ˈnir-ē-ˌad 

: any of a family (Gesneriaceae) of tropical or subtropical herbs (such as an African violet or gloxinia) with chiefly opposite leaves and highly zygomorphic flowers

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Gesneria, genus name, from Konrad Gesner †1565 Swiss naturalist

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above