saprophyte

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saprophyte

saprophyte , 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.

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saprophyte

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Â© A Dictionary of Nursing 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

saprophyte (sap-roh-fyt) n. any free-living organism that lives and feeds on the dead and putrefying tissues of animals or plants. Compare parasite.
—saprophytic (sap-roh-fit-ik) adj.

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saprophyte

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Â© World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

saprophyte Plant that obtains its food from dead or decaying plant or animal tissue. Generally, it has no chlorophyll. Included are most fungi and some flowering plants.

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