epilithic
/ˌɛpɪˈlɪθɪk
/adjective Botany
(Of a plant) growing on the surface of rock: most seaweeds are epilithic...
- We have virtually no fossils of tropical fleshy algae, especially the small soft epilithic species that characterize primary productivity on modern reefs.
- This community is also characterized by a high epiphytic and epilithic cover.
- We investigated the importance of snowmelt as an organizing factor for epilithic microalgae in a high-altitude montane stream during 3 yr of differing melt characteristics.
Origin
Early 20th century: from epi- 'upon' + Greek lithos 'stone' + -ic.