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