geophytic

9.9

Plants that grow from underground parts like bulbs or tubers to survive bad seasons

adjective
/ˌdʒiːəˈfaɪtɪk/

Specialized

: geofítico

The tulip is a classic example of a geophytic species, storing nutrients in its bulb.

Examples

Many desert plants adopt a geophytic lifestyle to survive long dry periods.
A geophytic habit allows these plants to regrow after wildfires thanks to their underground organs.
The geophytic plants thrive in dry conditions.
Many geophytic species store nutrients in their bulbs.
The tulip is a classic example of a geophytic species, storing nutrients in its bulb.
Many desert plants adopt a geophytic lifestyle to survive long dry periods.
A geophytic habit allows these plants to regrow after wildfires thanks to their underground organs.

Surface Forms

geophytic positive

Morphology

geophytic = geophyte (semi-transparent) = geo + phyte + ic

The adjective is formed regularly from the technical noun 'geophyte', but the botanical base term is specialized and may not be familiar to many learners.

Etymology

Geophytic comes from geo- 'earth' and -phytic 'plant', the same geo you see in geology. So a geophytic plant lives or grows in the earth, often using bulbs or other underground parts to survive cold or dry weather.