Plural of emergent; things or beings that emerge or arise, especially in ecology, referring to plants that grow above water level.
From emergent (something that emerges) plus -s pluralization. In ecology, 'emergent' plants are those breaking the water surface, a literal emergence.
In ecology, emergents are the tallest trees poking above the rainforest canopy—they're literally and dramatically emerging from their surroundings, showing that the word captures a visual truth about nature.
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