lithophyte

[ lith-uh-fahyt ]

noun

1. Zoology. a polyp with a hard or stony structure, as a coral.
2. Botany. any plant growing on the surface of rocks.

lithophyte

/ ˌlɪθəˈfɪtɪk; ˈlɪθəˌfaɪt /

noun

1. a plant that grows on rocky or stony ground
2. an organism, such as a coral, that is partly composed of stony material

lithophyte

/ lĭth′ə-fīt′ /

1. A plant that grows on rock and derives its nourishment chiefly from the atmosphere.

Derived Forms

• lithophytic, adjective

Other Words From

• lith·o·phyt·ic [lith-, uh, -, fit, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lithophyte¹

First recorded in 1765–75; litho- + -phyte

Example Sentences

Lithophyte, lith′o-fīt, n. any one of the polyps whose substance is stony or hard, as corals.

From Project Gutenberg