saprophytic
adjective
sap·ro·phyt·ic ˌsa-prə-ˈfi-tik 
: obtaining food by absorbing dissolved organic material
especially : obtaining nourishment from the products of organic breakdown and decay
saprophytic fungi
saprophytically
ˌsa-prə-ˈfi-ti-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web If that’s the case, this could be a saprophytic fungus developing off that tissue. 
Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, 12 Nov. 2020 Your thumbnail photo is quite small and quite dark, but these are some type of saprophytic fungal growth that is present because the branches were dead. Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, 28 May 2020
Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, 12 Nov. 2020 Your thumbnail photo is quite small and quite dark, but these are some type of saprophytic fungal growth that is present because the branches were dead. Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, 28 May 2020 Word History
First Known Use
1882, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
saprophytic
adjective
sap·ro·phyt·ic ˌsap-rə-ˈfit-ik
: obtaining food by absorbing dissolved organic material
especially : obtaining nourishment osmotically from the products of organic breakdown and decay
saprophytic fungi