periphyton

[ puh-rif-i-ton ]
/ pəˈrɪf ɪˌtɒn /

noun Ecology.

the community of tiny organisms, as protozoans, hydras, insect larvae, and snails, that lives on the surfaces of rooted aquatic plants.

Origin of periphyton

1940–45; probably peri- + Greek phŷton plant, -phyte, on the model of plankton

OTHER WORDS FROM periphyton

per·i·phyt·ic [per-uh-fit-ik] /ˌpɛr əˈfɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby periphyton

peripheric, periphery, periphlebitis, periphrasis, periphrastic, periphyton, periplasm, periporitis, periproct, periproctitis, periprostatitis

British Dictionary definitions for periphyton

periphyton
/ (pəˈrɪfɪˌtɒn) /

noun

aquatic organisms, such as certain algae, that live attached to rocks or other surfaces

Word Origin for periphyton

C20: from Greek, from peri- + phutos, from phuein to grow