sclerophyll

sclerophyll
/sklear"euh fil/, Bot.
adj.
1. Also, sclerophyllous /sklear'euh fil"euhs/. of, pertaining to, or exhibiting sclerophylly.
n.
2. a plant exhibiting sclerophylly.
[1910-15; SCLERO- + -PHYLL]

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▪ plant anatomy
      type of vegetation characterized by hard, leathery, evergreen foliage that is specially adapted to prevent moisture loss. Broad-leaved sclerophyll vegetation, including species such as holly (Ilex), is known as Mediterranean vegetation (q.v.) because it is characteristic of regions with a Mediterranean climate—hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Narrow-leaved sclerophyll vegetation is characteristic of species such as pines.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Sclerophyll — Fynbos in South Africa Sclerophyll is the term for a type of vegetation that has hard leaves and short internodes (the distance between leaves along the stem). The word comes from the Greek sclero (hard) and phyllon (leaf). Sclerophyllous plants… …   Wikipedia

  • sclerophyll — /ˈsklɛrəfɪl / (say skleruhfil), /ˈsklɪə / (say sklear ) noun 1. any of various plants, typically found in low rainfall areas, having tough leaves which help to reduce water loss. –adjective 2. composed of or relating to such plants: *In Australia …  

  • sclerophyll forest — /sklɛrəfɪl ˈfɒrəst/ (say skleruhfil foruhst) noun a forest comprising sclerophyll plants. The vegetation in sclerophyll forests is adapted to low levels of phosphorus in the soil rather than to low rainfall or low moisture. The leaves of… …  

  • sclerophyll — noun A form of vegetation that has hard leaves and short internodes …   Wiktionary

  • sclerophyll — [ sklɪərəfɪl, sklɛ ] noun Botany a woody plant with evergreen leaves that are tough and thick in order to reduce water loss. Derivatives sclerophyllous rɒfɪləs adjective Origin early 20th cent.: from Gk sklēros hard + phullon leaf …   English new terms dictionary

  • sclerophyll — scle·ro·phyll …   English syllables

  • sclerophyll — n. any woody plant with leathery leaves retaining water. Derivatives: sclerophyllous adj. Etymology: Gk skleros hard + phullon leaf …   Useful english dictionary

  • wet sclerophyll forest — noun an open forest comprising sclerophyll plants such as eucalypts, with an understorey of soft leaved shrubs; found in areas of higher rainfall. Compare dry sclerophyll forest. Wet sclerophyll forest is found on the North Coast of NSW, in the… …  

  • dry sclerophyll forest — noun an open forest (usually of eucalypts) with an understorey of hard leaved shrubs that have adapted to dry conditions. Compare wet sclerophyll forest. In dry sclerophyll forests, the canopy of eucalypts is 10–30 metres tall and has a hard… …  

  • List of biogeographic provinces — The following list of biogeographic provinces was developed by Miklos Udvardy in 1975.Afrotropical Realm* Tropical humid forests ** Guinean Rainforest ** Congo Rainforest ** Malagasy Rainforest* Tropical dry or deciduous forests (incl. Monsoon… …   Wikipedia

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