phy·ton \ˈfīˌtän\noun (-s) Etymology: New Latin, from Greek, plant — more at phyt- 1.: a structural unit of a plant consisting of a leaf and its associated portion of stem : phytomer 2.: the smallest part of a stem, root, or leaf that when severed may grow into a new plant : a potential cutting • phy·ton·ic\(ˈ)fī|tänik\adjective