a unit of plant structure, usually considered as the smallest part of the plant that is capable of growth when detached from the parent plant
Word origin
C20: from Greek. See -phyte
phyton in American English
(ˈfaitɑn)
noun
Botany
the smallest part of a stem, root, or leaf, that, when removed from a plant, may grow into a new plant
Derived forms
phytonic
adjective
Word origin
[1840–50; ‹ NL ‹ Gk phŷton a plant]This word is first recorded in the period 1840–50. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: bypass, flan, plaque, pylon, set piece