aphyllous

American  

[ey-fil-uhs] / eɪˈfɪl əs /

adjective

Botany.

1. naturally leafless.

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aphyllous British  

/ əˈfɪləs /

adjective

1. (of plants) having no leaves

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aphyllous Scientific  

/ ā-fĭl′əs /

1. Bearing no leaves; leafless. Aphyllous plants conduct photosynthesis in their stems and branches.

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Other Word Forms

• aphylly noun

Etymology

Origin of aphyllous

1820–30; < New Latin aphyllus < Greek áphyllos leafless. See a- ⁶, -phyllous

Example Sentences

A, at the beginning of words of Greek derivation, commonly signifies a negative, or the absence of something; as apetalous, without petals; aphyllous, leafless, &c.

From The Elements of Botany For Beginners and For Schools by Gray, Asa

Both are finally distinguishable from the type by their longer stalks, which are more decidedly aphyllous, and by their later flowering.

From Darwin, and After Darwin (Vol 3 of 3) Post-Darwinian Questions: Isolation and Physiological Selection by Romanes, George John