-phyte

Biology prefixes and suffixes
bio-
myco- / -mycete
phagy

phyto- / -phyte
-vore

zoo- / -zoan

Top - Introduction - Etymology - List of botanical terms ending in -phyte
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Other terms ending in -phyte - See also - References

Introduction

The suffix -phyte is used primarily as a tool in botany to form words used for categorising plants based on their evolutionary origin, life-history, growth-form or ecological preferences; the main purpose of this article is to provide a single point of reference for these terms. The suffix has been used in particular to form names of subdivisions of the plants and algae and to name the life-form groupings of the Raunkiær system (Raunkiær 1934).

Some terms are also used (with a corresponding meaning) in mycology or zoology; these are indicated.

The suffix has also been used in medicine and other contexts; see the section Other terms ending in -phyte at the end of the article.

Etymology

Such words are formed from Greek or Latin roots with the terminal -phyte ("_____-phyte" basically means "_____ plant".)

List of botanical terms ending in -phyte

This list is [Incomplete listsincomplete]; you can help by [:|action=edit}} expanding it].

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For ease of use, dummy entries for all other "phytes" are included in this list, but definitions are in the "other -phytes" section at the end of this article

A

Acidophyte is a term used in conjunction with the use of lichens to monitor air pollution (see van Herk 1999) TBC

An acrophyte is an alpine plant (synonym coryphophyte)

For actiphyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

An actophyte is a plant found growing on rocky shorelines

An aerophyte is a plant which obtains all of its nourishment from the air (also called an airplant)

An agrophyte is an agricultural plant

An aigiaphyte is a plant found growing on beaches or strandlines

An aiphyllophyte is a plant found growing in evergreen forests

An aithalophyte is a plant found growing in evergreen thickets

An aletophyte is a ruderal or wayside plant (synonym chomaphyte)

An alsophyte is a grove plant

An amathophyte is a plant found growing on sand-plains

An ammochthophyte is a plant found growing on sand-banks

An amphiphyte is an amphibious plant

An ancophyte is a canyon plant

An anecophyte is a plant found only in human-created habitats throughout its range - known colloquially as "homeless plants" - many arable weeds fall into this category (see Zohary 1962)

An anemophyte is a "blow-out" plant i.e. a plant found growing in hollows created by wind in sand-dunes

An anthophyte (sometimes spelt 'antophyte') is a flowering plant

An anthropophyte is a plant introduced via cultivation

For antophyte, see Anthophyte above

An apophyte is a native plant that has invaded abandoned fields

For Aquaphyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

The term archaeophyte is defined as a plant which was introduced to an area by humans (or arrived naturally, but from an area in which it was present as a human introduction) and became naturalised before AD 1500 (cf. neophyte).

For aromaphyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

The term arthrophyte refers to a plant which is a member of the Arthrophyta (but see also Other terms ending in -phyte below)

An autophyte is a plant capable of synthesizing its own food from simple organic substances (cf. saprophyte)

B

A bacillariophyte is a member of the diatoms

A bathyphyte is a plant found typically or exclusively in lowlands

A benthophyte is a plant living at the bottom of a body of water or in the bed of a river

A benthopheustophyte is any large plant resting freely on the floor of a lake but capable of drifting slowly with the lake's currents

A biophyte is a plant which consumes other living organisms

A bryophyte is a non-vascular plant, such as a moss

C

A calciphyte is a plant which thrives in, or is adapted to living in soils rich in calcium carbonate (a synonym of calcicole)

Carophyte is a variant of or spelling error for "charophyte" below.

A chamaephyte is a low-growing perennial plant whose living structures are therefore visible all year round and whose dormant overwintering buds are borne at or just above the surface of the ground

A chamerophyte is a herbaceous or woody plant which has its overwintering buds at or just above the soil surface

A charophyte is a member of the Charophyta, a group of green algae

A chasmophyte is a plant tolerant of or adapted to growing on vertical cliff faces

A chlorophyte is a member of the green algae

Chlorarachniophytes are a group of photosynthetic amoebae

For chondrophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A chromophyte is a member of the Chromista

A chrysophyte is a member of the golden algae

A coniferophyte is a conifer

For cophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A coprophyte is a plant which feeds on dung

A cormophyte is a land plant belonging to the former botanical division Cormophyta, having a stem and root system

A coryphophyte is an alpine plant (synonym acrophyte)

For Cosmophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A craspedophyte is an older name for a choanoflagellate, which were previously considered relatives of the golden algae

The term cryophyte has two meanings (but see also Other terms ending in -phyte below)

a plant that grows on ice or snow (see cryophyte).
a plant of the genus Cryophytum

A cryptophyte is a plant in which the buds are covered with soil or water (geophytes, helophytes and hydrophytes are all classes of cryptophyte). Cryptophyte also refers to the cryptomonads, a group of single-celled algae

A cuprophyte is a plant which is adapted to living in, or tolerant of, soils with high copper levels

A cyanophyte is an older name for a member of the cyanobacteria

A cycadophyte is a cycad

D

A dendrophyte is a plant found growing in an orchard

For dermatophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

For dermophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A dictyochophyte is a member of the axodines, or more particularly the silicoflagellates, a group of heterokont algae

A dinophyte or pyrrhophyte is a member of the dinoflagellates, a group of unicellular algae

For diplophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

For discophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A dissophyte - not to be confused with dyssophyte (q.v.) - is a plant whose shoots are xerophytic (q.v.), but whose roots are mesophytic (q.v.)

A drimyphyte is a salt-plant

A dyssophyte - not to be confused with dissophyte (q.v.) - is a plant which can behave either as a hydrophyte (q.v.) or an epiphyte (q.v.)

E

For Ecophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

The term ectophyte has two similar meanings (but see also Other terms ending in -phyte below):
* it describes the parts of a parasitic plant (e.g. stem, leaves, flowers) that occur outside the host plant (c.f. endophyte)
* it refers to a parasitic plant which lives solely on the surface of its host, without penetrating its tissue

An edaphophyte is a plant with its roots in soil and its shoots in the air

For electrophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

An embryophyte is a complex multicellular plant, as opposed to algae

An emophyte is a plant which is completely submerged, and has no functional stomata

An endophyte (c.f. ectophyte) is a parasitic or symbiotic organism (plant, animal or fungus) which lives entirely within its host plant, for at least part of its lifecycle

For Entero-Phyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

An entomophyte is a plant living within or on the body of an insect (synonym entophyte)

For entophyte, see entomophyte above

An eophyte is a fossil plant which is found in the lowest beds of the Silurian age

An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon or attached to another living plant

An ergasialipophyte is a plant which is a relic of cultivation

An ergasiapophyte is a plant colonizing cultivated fields

An ergasiophygophte is a plant which is a fugitive from cultivation

An ergasiophyte is a foreign cultivated plant deliberately introduced

An ergasiphyte is a foreign cultivated plant

A euglenophyte is a member of the euglenids, a group of single-celled algae

A europhyte is a plant which grows in leaf mould

Eustigmatophytes are a small group of heterokont algae

For exophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

For Exze-Phyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

F, G

A gametophyte is the haploid life-stage in a plant which practises alternation of generations; in flowering plants this term is used to refer to the plant's haploid structures (q.v. microgametophyte, macrogametophyte)

For genophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A geophyte is a plant which has underground storage organs

A ginkgophyte is a Ginkgo tree, or one of its extinct relatives

Glaucophytes or glaucocystophytes are a small group of single-celled algae

A glycophyte is a plant adapted to nonsaline soil

A gypsophyte is a plant adapted to chalk or limestone

H

A halophyte is a plant which is tolerant of saline conditions, or adapted to a saline soil or soil influenced by salt water

A haplophyte is a plant which has the same number of chromosomes as are characteristic for the organism's gametes

Haptophytes or prymnesiophytes are a group of single-celled algae

A heliophyte is a plant which thrives in or tolerates full sunlight (cf. Ombrophyte, Sciophyte/Skiophyte)

A helophyte is a marsh plant (synonymous with limnodophyte)

Hemerophyte is a generic term for a plant introduced by humans

For hemaphyte and hemophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A hemicryptophyte is a herbaceous plant which has its wintering buds at or just above the soil surface

A heterokontophyte is any heterokont alga

A heterophyte is a generic term for a plant which is dependent on another for its nutrition (cf autophyte)

A hydrogeophyte is a geophyte (q.v.) which grows in aquatic environments (e.g. water lilies)

A hydrohemicryptophyte is an aquatic hemicryptophyte (q.v.)

The term hydrophyte has two meanings:
* a free-floating water plant
* a plant adapted to high moisture levels (c.f. mesophyte, xerophyte)

A hydrotherophyte is an aquatic therophyte (q.v.)

A hygrophyte is a plant which thrives in very wet soil and/or is more or less restricted to moist sites

I, J

For Inophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

K

A kenapophyte is a plant which has colonised cleared land

L

A leimonapophyte is a plant which has been introduced into grassland

Limnodophyte is a term for a marsh plant (synonymous with helophyte)

Limnophyte is a term for a plant which grows in or on mud

A lithophyte is a plant growing on rock or on rocky soil

A lycophyte or lycopodiophyte is a member of the Lycopodiophyta

For lycopodiophyte, see lycophyte above

M

A macrophanerophyte

A macrophyte is a plant large enough to be seen with the naked eye, as distinct from the many microscopic algae

A magnoliophyte is a member of the Magnoliophyta (also known as angiosperms - the flowering plants)

For Mediaphyte see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A megagametophyte a gametophyte that produces female gametes (eggs).

Megaphyte is term used to refer to plants which typically have unbranched stems or trunks, which bear a crown of very large leaves, and often also possess a massive inflorescence.

A melangeophyte is a plant growing in loam or alluvium

A mesophanerophyte

A mesohydrophyte is a plant whose tolerance to moisture is intermediate between that of a mesophyte (q.v.) and a hydrophyte (q.v.)

A mesophyte is a plant adapted to medium moisture levels (c.f. hydrophyte, xerophyte)

A mesoxerophyte is a plant whose tolerance to moisture is intermediate between that of a mesophyte (q.v.) and a xerophyte (q.v.)

A metallophyte is a plant which is tolerant of substrates with a high metal content; metallophytes are divided into obligate metallophytes (which require such a substrate) and pseudometallophytes (q.v.)

A metaphyte is a multicellular plant

A microgametophyte is a gametophyte that produces male gametes (sperm).

A microphyte is a microscopic, usually unicellular, plant

A microphanerophyte

Used as an adjective monophyte means "composed of a single plant species"

For Mycophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A mycoheterophyte is a plant which obtains its nutrients from mycorrhizal fungus, which is often in turn parasitic on a photosynthetic plant (mycoheterophytes are thus indirectly parasitic on other plants; they are also known as epiparasites)

A myrmecophyte is a plant that lives in association with a colony of ants and possesses specialized organs in which the ants live.

N

A nanophanerophyte

A nanophyte

A neophyte

A neurophyte

A nitrophyte

O

An oceanophyte is a plant growing in the ocean

The term ombrophyte has two meanings:

a plant which thrives in or tolerates shade (cf. heliophyte)
a plant capable of withstanding a lot of rain

An oophyte

An orophyte is a plant inhabiting hills and mountains

For osteophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

An oxyphyte is a plant growing in soil which lacks oxygen

An oxylophyte is a plant adapted to acid soils

P

A paleophyte

A paraphyte

Pelagophytes are a small group of heterokont algae

A phaeophyte or fucophyte is a member of the brown algae

Phaeothamniophytes are a small group of heterokont algae

A phanerophyte is a tall-growing plant with living structures visible all year

A phorophyte

A photophyte

A phreatophyte is a deep-rooted plant that obtains water from a permanent ground supply or from the water table (or soil just above it)

A phycophyte

A phytophyte

A pinophyte

A plotophyte is a floating plant, with stomata on its upper leaf surface only

A prasinophyte

A prophyte

A protophyte

A pseudometallophyte is a plant which can tolerate (but does not require) a substrate with a high metal content (c. f. metallophyte)

A pseudophyte

A psilophyte is a member of the division Psilophyta

A psilotophyte

A psychrophyte

A pteridophyte

A pterophyte

A pyrophyte is a woody plant which has unusual resistance to fire e.g. because of exceptionally thick bark, or a competitive advantage over other plants following a fire e.g. because fire acts as a catalyst to fertile culm production (but see also Other terms ending in -phyte below)

Q, R

Raphidophytes are a small group of heterokont algae

A rhodophyte is a member of the red algae

S

A saprophyte is an organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that grows on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.

Sarcophyte is a genus of plants in the family Balanophoraceae

A sciophyte (also spelt 'skiophyte') is a plant which thrives in or tolerates shade (synonymous with ombrophyte, cf. heliophyte)

For skiophyte, see sciophyte above

A sphenophyte is a member of the Sphenophyta

A spiladophyte is a plant which is adapted to growing in, or is tolerant of, clay

A sporophyte

A streptophyte is a member of the Streptophyta

For Superphyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A synurophyte is a member of the synurids, a small group of heterokont algae

T

Thallophyte is a term for a member of the Thallophyta, a former subdivision of the plant kingdom used to group relatively simple plants with undifferentiated tissue.

A therophyte is a plant which survives between favourable seasons in the form of a seed; the therophytes form one of the categories of the Raunkiær system.

Tracheophyte is a term which is synonymous with vascular plant (from the former botanical division Tracheophyta)

A tropophyte is a plant adapted to climatic conditions in which periods of heavy rainfall alternate with periods of drought

U, V, W

For Ultraphyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

X, Y

A xanthophyte or tribophyte is a member of the yellow-green algae

A xenophyte is an alien plant, one that is not found naturally in the geographical area under discussion (but see also Other terms ending in -phyte below)

A xerophyte is a plant adapted to survive in very dry situations (c.f. hydrophyte, mesophyte)

A Xeropoophyte is a heathland plant

A Xeroxylophyte is a dry forest plant

Z

For Zemaphyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

For zoophyte, see Other terms ending in -phyte below

A zygophyte

A zyophyte Is any plant of a proposed class or grand division (Zygophytes, Zygophyta, or Zygosporeae), in which reproduction consists in the union of two similar cells. Cf. Oophyte.

Other terms ending in -phyte

Some zoological -phytes

An ectophyte is an animal which is phytophagous but which feeds only on the surface of plants, and does not penetrate their tissue

An endophyte is an animal that lives within a plant for at least part of its life without causing apparent disease.

Zoophyte is a term which refers to any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant, such as a sea anemone or coral or sponge (and also an Australian band - see Zoophyte)

Medical \"-phytes\"

In addition to its use as a botanical term (see above), arthrophyte is a term used for an abnormal growth in a joint cavity

A chondrophyte is an abnormal cartilaginous mass that develops at the articular surface of a bone

A dermatophyte or dermophyte is a fungal parasite on the skin

Discophyte is a term used in neurology

Exophyte is term which relates to tumours

An osteophyte is an abnormal bony projection which forms on a joint (often due to arthritis)

Proper names ending in -phyte

Aquaphyte is the newsletter of the Center for Aquatic Plants and the Aquatic Plant Information Retrieval System (APIRS) of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS).

In addition to its use as a botanical term (see above), Cryophyte is a beauty product marketed on QVC and Cryophyte Entertainment is a computer games company

Ecophyte Technologies is in Australian company specialising in applied and environmental geophysics

Ectophyte Insect Repellent and Oxxyphyte are drugs used on livestock, made by Agri-Dynamics

Entero-Phyte, Exze-Phyte and Ultraphyte are pet food supplements produced by Ultrateck

Inophyte is a cancer treatment produced by NutriScience Innovations

Mediaphyte is a web development company ([company website])

Mycophyte is a drug used to treat ringworm in livestock

Pyrophyte, in addition to its botanical meaning, is:
* the name of a piece of sculpture by Tom Joyce, illustrated on [this page] at Artnet.com, and
* a fire safety material used in the products of Australian fire safety company Firesight

Superphyte is a health food supplement produced by Higher Nature

Xenophyte is an Australian company specialising in computing infrastructures solutions ([company website])

Zemaphyte is a Chinese herbal medicine used to treat eczema

Zoophyte is an Australian band (and also a term which refers to any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant, such as a sea anemone or coral or sponge)

Fictional -phytes

Cosmophyte was a science fiction article by Julian Chain published in the April 1952 edition of the magazine Astounding Science Fiction

An electrophyte is a mushroom-like life-form in the Discovery Channel drama serialisation Alien Planet

For hemophyte, see Final Fantasy

Miscellaneous other -phytes

The term actiphyte is used in relation to cosmetics

The term aromaphyte is used in relation to aromatherapy

Other botanical -phytes which ought to have a definition on this page: can you help?

Some of these were found from a Google crawl and so may be typos or in other ways non-existent terms

Cophyte
Diplophyte
Genophyte
Hemaphyte

References

Van Herk, C.M., (1999) Mapping of Ammonia Pollution with Epiphytic Lichens in the Netherlands Lichenologist 31 (1) 9-20.
Raunkiær, Christen C. (1934) The Life Forms of Plants and Statistical Plant Geography, published by Oxford University Press.
Zohary, M. (1962) Plant life of Palestine, published by Ronald Press Co.

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