A plant that survives winter or drought by storing energy in underground structures like bulbs, corms, or tubers.
From geo- (Earth) + -phyte (Greek phyton, 'plant'). The term was coined in the late 19th century by plant biologists to classify plants by their survival strategies, based on earlier work by Danish botanist Christen Raunkiaer.
Daffodils, tulips, and potatoes are all geophytes—they disappear from above ground but survive harsh winters or droughts hidden safely underground in bulbs or tubers, then pop back up when conditions improve! It's nature's smart storage system.
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