Preferring or thriving in air; describing organisms that need air or oxygen to survive.
From Greek aero- (air) and -philous (loving). A classical botanical and biological term used since the 19th century, often interchangeable with aerophilic in scientific contexts.
While aerophobic plants love moisture and shade, aerophilous plants and fungi spread their spores through the air—meaning sneezers and hay fever sufferers are battling millions of aerophilous pollen particles every spring.
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