phreatophyte

[ free-at-uh-fahyt ]

noun

1. a long-rooted plant that absorbs its water from the water table or the soil above it.

phreatophyte

/ frɪˈætəfaɪt /

noun

1. a plant having very long roots that reach down to the water table or the layer above it

phreatophyte

/ frē-ăt′ə-fīt′ /

1. A deep-rooted plant that obtains water from a permanent ground supply or from the water table, such as many tamarisk species. Phreatophytes are often found in arid environments.

Other Words From

• phre·at·o·phyt·ic [free-at-, uh, -, fit, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phreatophyte¹

1915–20; < Greek phreat- ( phreatic ) + -o- + -phyte

Word History and Origins

Origin of phreatophyte¹

C20: from Greek phrear a well + -phyte

Example Sentences

For example, he doesn’t just camp under a big tree, but notes that under its canopy the air is cooler, “a palpable microclimate, as if the trees were generating their own breeze. A sycamore,” he adds, “is a phreatophyte or ‘well plant’ with deep roots to tap into what little water there is far below.”

From Los Angeles Times