Saprophytic
/ˌsæprəˈfɪtɪk/noun
Describing an organism that lives on and derives nourishment from dead or decaying organic matter.
Did you know?The second half of this word comes from Greek *phyton* “plant,” because early biologists grouped fungi with plants, even though saprophytes are now understood very differently.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
saprós + phytón
“rotten, putrid + plant”
Late 19th Century
French/English
saprophyte
“an organism, especially a fungus, living on decaying matter”
Modern English
English
saprophytic
“relating to or characteristic of saprophytes”
Modern English
English
saprophytic
“relating to or characteristic of saprophytes”