Phytolith
/ˈfaɪtəˌlɪθ/noun
A microscopic mineral body, usually made of silica, formed within plant tissues.
Did you know?Phytoliths can survive fire, decay, and thousands of years in soil, allowing archaeologists to identify plants that left no visible seeds or wood behind.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰuH-
“To grow, come into being, or exist”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phýein
“To grow or bring forth”
Ancient Greek
Greek
phytón
“A plant or growing thing”
Ancient Greek
Greek
líthos
“Stone”
19th Century
Scientific English
phytolith
“A mineral or stone-like structure produced inside a plant”
Modern English
English
phytolith
“A microscopic plant-formed mineral body used in ecology, archaeology, and paleobotany”