SCLEROPHYLL

[ 'sklɪərəfɪl , 'sklɛ- ]

■ noun Botany a woody plant with evergreen leaves that are tough and thick in order to reduce water loss.

Derivatives

~ous -'rɒfɪləs adjective

Origin

early 20th cent.: from Gk sklēros 'hard' + phullon 'leaf'.