(n) monoecious trees and shrubs (including the genera Betula and Alnus and Carpinus and Corylus and Ostrya and Ostryopsis), Syn. birch family, family Betulaceae
n. 1. a natural family of monoecious trees and shrubs, including the genera Betula; Alnus; Carpinus; Corylus; Ostrya; and Ostryopsis. Syn. -- family Betulaceae, birch family. [ WordNet 1.5 ]