subaerophytic

English

Etymology

From sub- +‎ aerophyte +‎ -ic.

Adjective

subaerophytic (not comparable)

1. Living in a terrestrial habitat such as on rocks or stones, where most water is atmospheric but there occurs another intermittent water source such as spray from an adjacent waterfall.
   • 2015, John D. Wehr, Robert G. Sheath, J. Patrick Kociolek, Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification:

     Several cyanobacteria live as endolithic species inside rocks (within the crystal lattice) in very arid, hot or cold deserts, usually subaerophytic.

   • 2016, Orlando Necchi Jr., River Algae, page 12:

     Occurrence: many species are epilithic on submerged stones or subaerophytic in spray and zones (sensu Rott et al. 2006) but may also be common as planktic members.

   • 2017, Patrick C. Hallenbeck, Modern Topics in the Phototrophic Prokaryotes:

     Gloeothece plays a substantial role within aerophytic or subaerophytic communities or on submerged substrates all over the world (Komárek and Anagnostidis 1998).