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saprophyte

 
Dictionary: sap·ro·phyte   (săp'rə-fīt') pronunciation
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n.
An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that grows on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.

saprophytic sap'ro·phyt'ic (-fĭt'ĭk) adj.
saprophytically sap'ro·phyt'i·cal·ly adv.

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Dental Dictionary: saprophyte
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n

An organism that lives on dead organic matter.

Geography Dictionary: saprophyte
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Home > Library > Science > Geographical Dictionary

An organism which feeds on dead plant or animal material. Most saprophytes are fungi or bacteria. They are important in nutrient cycles as they bring about decay and liberate nutrients for plant growth.

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: saprophyte
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saprophyte (săp'rəfīt'), any plant that depends on dead plant or animal tissue for a source of nutrition and metabolic energy, e.g., most fungi (molds) and a few flowering plants, such as Indian pipe and some orchids. Most saprophytes do not produce chlorophyll and therefore do not photosynthesize; they are thus dependent on the food energy they absorb from the decaying tissues, which they help to break down.

Veterinary Dictionary: saprophyte
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Home > Library > Animal Life > Veterinary Dictionary

Any organism, such as a bacterium, capable of living in inanimate media.

Gardener's Dictionary: saprophyte
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Home > Library > Home & Garden > Dictionary for Gardeners

A plant, such as a fungus, that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter. Saprophytes have no chlorophyll.

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Geography Dictionary. A Dictionary of Geography. Copyright © Susan Mayhew 1992, 1997, 2004. All rights reserved.  Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Gardener's Dictionary. Taylor's Dictionary for Gardeners, by Frances Tenenbaum. Copyright © 1997 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more