Hematophyte

/ˌhɛmətəˈfaɪt/ noun

Definition

A plant that grows in blood or a parasitic plant that feeds on the blood of animals.

Etymology

From Greek 'haima' (blood) + 'phyton' (plant). This rare term was used in older botanical and parasitology texts to describe organisms with unusual, blood-dependent life cycles.

Kelly Says

While 'hematophyte' as a true plant is mostly theoretical, parasitic worms in animals could arguably be called proto-hematophytes since they literally live in blood vessels and feed on blood cells!

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