Lacking chlorophyll; not containing the green pigment needed for photosynthesis.
From Greek 'a-' (without) + 'chloro-' (green) + 'phyll' (leaf) + '-ous' (full of). Scientific botanical term formed in the 1800s when chlorophyll chemistry was first understood.
Achlorophyllous plants are botanical parasites—like dodder and mistletoe—they've essentially given up on making their own food and instead steal nutrients from host plants they strangle!
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