periphyton

periphyton [puh-rif-i-ton] Word Origin noun Ecology.

1. 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 Related formsper·i·phyt·ic [per-uh-fit-ik] /ˌpɛr əˈfɪt ɪk/, adjective British Dictionary definitions for periphytic periphyton noun

1. 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