Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A plant, often with deep roots, that is mostly or entirely dependent on water from a permanent ground supply.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun biology Any plant, typically living in deserts, that obtains its water from long taproots that reach the water table

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Greek phrear, phreat-, well, spring; see phreatic + –phyte.]

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Examples

  • A phreatophyte is a plant whose roots generally extend downward to the water table; the term literally means water-loving plants.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • A phreatophyte is a plant whose roots generally extend downward to the water table; the term literally means water-loving plants.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • A phreatophyte is a plant whose roots generally extend downward to the water table; the term literally means water-loving plants.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • A phreatophyte is a plant whose roots generally extend downward to the water table; the term literally means water-loving plants.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • To the proponents of phreatophyte control, the elimination of riparian trees and conversion of the water “wasted” by transpiration in order to provide more water for irrigated agriculture was true conservation in that it was a “wise and beneficial” use of natural resources.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • To the proponents of phreatophyte control, the elimination of riparian trees and conversion of the water “wasted” by transpiration in order to provide more water for irrigated agriculture was true conservation in that it was a “wise and beneficial” use of natural resources.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • Despite this direction, in 1964 the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and Soil Conservation Service published a plan for phreatophyte control in the Humboldt River drainage.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • Despite this direction, in 1964 the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and Soil Conservation Service published a plan for phreatophyte control in the Humboldt River drainage.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • To the proponents of phreatophyte control, the elimination of riparian trees and conversion of the water “wasted” by transpiration in order to provide more water for irrigated agriculture was true conservation in that it was a “wise and beneficial” use of natural resources.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

  • Despite this direction, in 1964 the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and Soil Conservation Service published a plan for phreatophyte control in the Humboldt River drainage.

    Trout and Salmon of North America Robert J. Behnke 2002

Comments

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  • The dilettante's blossom is bright

    But withers in weather and light.

    The deep-rooted scholar,

    Though paler and smaller,

    Persists like a phreatophyte.

    February 17, 2017

  • Ah, qms. Another delight. Thank you.

    February 17, 2017

  • Thank you, ruzuzu.

    February 17, 2017