— periphytic /per'euh fit"ik/ , adj.
/peuh rif"i ton'/ , n. Ecol.
the community of tiny organisms, as protozoans, hydras, insect larvae, and snails, that lives on the surfaces of rooted aquatic plants.
[ 1940-45; prob. PERI- + Gk phyton plant, -PHYTE, on the model of PLANKTON ]