Advertisement

Advertisement

xerophyte

[ zeer-uh-fahyt ]

noun

  1. a plant adapted for growth under dry conditions.


xerophyte

/ ˌzɪərəˈfɪtɪk; ˈzɪərəˌfaɪt /

noun

  1. a xerophilous plant, such as a cactus
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


xerophyte

/ zîrə-fīt′ /

  1. A plant that is adapted to an arid environment. Many xerophytes have specialized tissues (usually nonphotosynthetic parenchyma cells) for storing water, as in the stems of cacti and the leaves of succulents. Others have thin, narrow leaves, or even spines, for minimizing water loss. Xerophyte leaves often have abundant stomata to maximize gas exchange during periods in which water is available, and the stomata are recessed in depressions, which are covered with fine hairs to help trap moisture in the air.
  2. Compare hydrophyte


Discover More

Derived Forms

  • xerophytic, adjective
  • ˈxeroˌphytism, noun
  • ˌxeroˈphytically, adverb
Discover More

Other Words From

  • xe·ro·phyt·ic [zeer-, uh, -, fit, -ik], adjective
  • xero·phyti·cal·ly adverb
  • xe·ro·phyt·ism [zeer, -, uh, -fahy-tiz-, uh, m, -fahy-tiz-], noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of xerophyte1

First recorded in 1895–1900; xero- + -phyte

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


xerophthalmiaxeroradiograph