geophyte

[ jee-uh-fahyt ]

noun

, Botany.

1. a plant propagated by means of underground buds.

geophyte

/ ˌdʒiːəʊˈfɪtɪk; ˈdʒiːəʊˌfaɪt /

noun

1. a perennial plant that propagates by means of buds below the soil surface

geophyte

/ jē′ə-fīt′ /

1. A perennial plant with an underground food storage organ, such as a bulb, tuber, corm, or rhizome. The parts of the plant that grow above ground die away during adverse conditions, as in winter or during the dry season, and grow again from buds that are on or within the underground portion when conditions improve. Crocuses and tulips are geophytes.

Derived Forms

• geophytic, adjective

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of geophyte¹

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

Example Sentences

In this connexion it is noteworthy that so many of the higher forms are adapted as bulbous geophytes, or as aerophytes to special xerophilous conditions.

From Project Gutenberg