Meanings
nouncryptophyte (plural cryptophytes)
plural cryptophytes
- biologyAny plant whose buds overwinter either below ground, or under water
- biologyA cryptomonad
Synonyms & antonyms
nouncommon in fresh and salt water appearing along the shore as algal blooms
Similar
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From crypto- (“hidden”) + -phyte (“plant”).
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch cryptofyt
- cryptofytplant with buds overwintering below the surface
Portuguese criptófita
- criptófitaplant with buds overwintering below the surface
Cite this entry
APA
cryptophyte. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptophyte
MLA
“cryptophyte.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptophyte. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cryptophyte,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cryptophyte.
Source: cryptophyte on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.