|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
halophyte
halophyte A plant that can tolerate a high concentration of salt in the soil. Such conditions occur in salt marshes and mudflats. Halophytes possess some of the structural modifications of xerophytes; for example, many of them are succulents. In addition, they are physiologically adapted to withstand the high salinity of the soil water: their root cells have a higher than normal concentration of solutes, which enables them to take up water by osmosis from the surrounding soil. Examples of halophytes are mangrove trees (see mangrove swamp), thrift (Armeria), sea lavender (Limonium), and rice grass (Spartina). Compare hydrophyte; mesophyte.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"halophyte." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "halophyte." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-halophyte.html "halophyte." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-halophyte.html |
|
halophyte
halophyte , any plant, especially a seed plant, that is able to grow in habitats excessively rich in salts, such as salt marshes, sea coasts, and saline or alkaline semideserts and steppes. These plants have special physiological adaptations that enable them to absorb water from soils and from seawater, which have solute concentrations that nonhalophytes could not tolerate. Some halophytes are actually succulent, with a high water-storage capacity. |
|
|
Cite this article
"halophyte." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "halophyte." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-halophyt.html "halophyte." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-halophyt.html |
|
halophyte
halophyte A terrestrial plant that is adapted morphologically and/or physiologically to grow in salt-rich soils and salt-laden air (e.g. Salicornia species, glass-worts). See also SALT MARSH.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "halophyte." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "halophyte." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-halophyte.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "halophyte." A Dictionary of Plant Sciences. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O7-halophyte.html |
|
halophyte
halophyte A terrestrial plant that is adapted morphologically and/or physiologically to grow in salt-rich soils and salt-laden air (e.g. Salicornia species, glassworts). See also salt marsh.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "halophyte." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "halophyte." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-halophyte.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "halophyte." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-halophyte.html |
|
halophyte
hal·o·phyte / ˈhaləˌfīt/ • n. Bot. a plant adapted to growing in saline conditions, as in a salt marsh. |
|
|
Cite this article
"halophyte." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "halophyte." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-halophyte.html "halophyte." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-halophyte.html |
|
halophyte
halophyte Any plant that is able to live in salty conditions.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"halophyte." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "halophyte." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-halophyte.html "halophyte." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-halophyte.html |
|
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
