Hydrophyte
/ˈhaɪdrəfaɪt/noun
A plant adapted to living in water or very wet environments.
Did you know?Hydrophyte combines Greek hýdōr, “water,” with phytón, “plant,” the same growth-root behind ancient Greek words describing living things emerging or sprouting.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wed-
“Water; a root associated with wetness and flowing water”
Ancient Greek
Greek
hýdōr
“Water”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phytón
“A plant; literally something that has grown”
19th Century
Scientific Latin
hydrophyton
“A water plant, formed from Greek hýdōr and phytón”
19th Century
English
hydrophyte
“A plant adapted to aquatic or exceptionally wet conditions”