heterophyte

[ het-er-uh-fahyt ]
/ ˈhɛt ər əˌfaɪt /

noun Botany.

a plant that secures its nutrition directly or indirectly from other organisms; a parasite or saprophyte.
Compare autophyte.

Origin of heterophyte

hetero- + -phyte

OTHER WORDS FROM heterophyte

het·er·o·phyt·ic [het-er-uh-fit-ik] /ˌhɛt ər əˈfɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby heterophyte

heterophoria, heterophthalmus, heterophyes, heterophyiasis, heterophyllous, heterophyte, heteroplasia, heteroplastic, heteroplastic graft, heteroplasty, heteroploid

Scientific definitions for heterophyte

heterophyte
[ hĕt′ər-ə-fīt′ ]

A plant that obtains its nourishment from other living or dead organisms. For example, Indian pipe is a pale white plant without chlorophyll that obtains its nutrition from fungal symbionts. See also heterotroph.