saprophyte

sap·ro·phyte

S0085900 (săp′rə-fīt′)n. An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter. Also called saprobe.

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

saprophyte

(ˈsæprəʊˌfaɪt) n (Botany) any plant that lives and feeds on dead organic matter using mycorrhizal fungi associated with its roots; a saprotrophic plant saprophytic adj ˌsaproˈphytically adv ˈsaproˌphytism n

sap•ro•phyte

(ˈsæp rəˌfaɪt)

n. any organism that lives on dead organic matter. [1870–75] sap`ro•phyt′ic (-ˈfɪt ɪk) adj.

sap·ro·phyte

(săp′rə-fīt′) An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that lives on and gets its nourishment from dead organisms or decaying organic material.

saprophytic (săp′rə-fĭt′ĭk) adjective

saprophyte

An organism that feeds on dead organic material, e.g. a mushroom.

Thesaurus

Noun

saprophyte - an organism that feeds on dead organic matter especially a fungus or bacteriumsaprophytic organismorganism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently

Translations

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.

Saprophyte

a plant that feeds on the organic matter of dead organisms or on the excrement of living organisms. Their type of feeding places saprophytes in the group of heterotrophic organisms. Saprophytes and autotrophic organisms play an important role in the cycle of matter in nature; saprophytes promote the decomposition of carcasses and animal excrement into water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and other inorganic compounds.

Saprophytes are found mainly among bacteria, actinomy-cetes, and fungi. Typical algal saprophytes are Polytoma of the family Chlamydomonadinaceae and Prototheca of the family Protococcales. Some saprophytes transfer to a parasitic mode of existence. A number of photosynthesizing organisms, such as some green algae, may also feed saprophytically.

Flowering plants of the families Pyrolaceae, Orchidaceae, and Burmanniaceae are sometimes considered as saprophytes, but it is more accurate to regard them as mycotrophic parasitic plants. The plants receive nutrient matter from the soil via a mycorrhizal fungus, and they are also marked by photosynthesis.

E. S. TEREKHIN

saprophyte

[′sap·rə‚fīt] (botany) A plant that lives on decaying organic matter.

saprophyte

any plant that lives and feeds on dead organic matter using mycorrhizal fungi associated with its roots; a saprotrophic plant

saprophyte

[sap´ro-fīt] any organism, such as a bacterium or protozoon, living upon dead or decaying organic matter. For fungi, the preferred term is saprobe. adj., adj saprophyt´ic.

sap·ro·phyte

(sap'rō-fīt), An organism that grows on dead organic matter, plant or animal. See: saprobe. Synonym(s): necroparasite [sapro- + G. phyton, plant]

saprophyte

(săp′rə-fīt′)n. An organism, especially a fungus or bacterium, that derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter. Also called saprobe.

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

sap·robe

(sap'rōb) An organism that lives on dead organic material. usage note This term is preferable to saprophyte, because bacteria and fungi are no longer regarded as plants. [sapro- + G. bios, life]

saprophyte

An organism that lives on and derives its nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.

saprophyte

saprotroph

any plant or microorganism that obtains its nutrition from dead or decaying organic materials in the form of organic substances in solution. Such organisms are of great importance in breaking down dead organic material. see NITROGEN CYCLE.

sap·robe

(sap'rōb) An organism that lives on dead organic material. usage note This term is preferable to saprophyte, because bacteria and fungi are no longer regarded as plants. [sapro- + G. bios, life]

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Synonyms for saprophyte

noun an organism that feeds on dead organic matter especially a fungus or bacterium

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