what are saprophytes?
- Thread starter twig
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guymayor
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- East US, Earth
It looks like the advertisement:information ratio on that site is about 10:1, and the info ain't that great. The affix "phyte" comes from the Greek for "to grow". It's not restricted to higher plants; see the ISA def: *organism* that lives on and may act to decay dead organic matter (contrast with epiphyte and parasite)... http://www.isa-arbor.com/education/onlineresources/dictionary.aspx
Being overly strict in terminology is indicative of a neophyte
in etymology. Precision is often unachievable, so accuracy will suffice. IOW, wut's the dif?
Being overly strict in terminology is indicative of a neophyte
in etymology. Precision is often unachievable, so accuracy will suffice. IOW, wut's the dif?I agree Guy to many advertisements. Sorry the article disappointed you. I didnt think it was that bad. I was hoping it would start a discussion. Oh well!!!
guymayor
Branched out member
- Location
- East US, Earth
hey you got your wish...4 sentences is an article?? Actually the whole site disappointed me; until I looked at the title. "WiseGeek" indicates a Wise Asp. Kinda whorish with that 10:1 thingy ain't it?
Neophytology; that's a subject worth studying! O and the ISA Glossary is a much better source for definitions, but it's not perfect. The 'topping' definition is better than ANSI A300's though. Stay tuned for the 2014 revision.
Time for a refill!
Neophytology; that's a subject worth studying! O and the ISA Glossary is a much better source for definitions, but it's not perfect. The 'topping' definition is better than ANSI A300's though. Stay tuned for the 2014 revision.
Time for a refill!
KTSmith
Branched out member
- Location
- Maine, New Hampshire
"Saprophyte" refers to a mode of nutrition. Saprophytes gain their nutrition from formerly living and now dead organisms and their parts. The "-phyte" or "phyto-" roots just mean a plant or plant-like organism. Don't be too strict and narrow here. I don't consider fungal or bacterial decomposers as really being plants, but they have that historical connection.
"Epiphyte" takes that root word but refers to life habit, that is something that grows on a plant and "endophyte" refers to a fungus or bacterium that lives inside a plant.
Our wonderful language, both technical and colloquial, is derived from multiple sources, all with their own traditions in how best to combine roots to form new terms. Consequently, don't expect parallel construction! I might say that with respect to mode of nutrition, that the meadow button mushroom is a saprophyte, that the cedar-apple rust fungus is a parasite (takes its food from another living creature without providing an apparent benefit) as well as an obligate biotroph (it's food source needs to be alive) and a pathogen (causes disease), and that the apple tree is an autotroph (meaning makes its own food). Sure, you make it a little more parallel by calling the button mushroom a "saprogen" or "saprotroph" (with the latter being how I was taught during some of graduate school). Still, it's not always going to line up perfectly with respect to word construction and syntax.
Actually, the history of forest pathology and even all of biology itself hinges precisely on the concepts behind these words, but I reckon I've killed off discussion and any residual interest in this topic has vaporized!
"Epiphyte" takes that root word but refers to life habit, that is something that grows on a plant and "endophyte" refers to a fungus or bacterium that lives inside a plant.
Our wonderful language, both technical and colloquial, is derived from multiple sources, all with their own traditions in how best to combine roots to form new terms. Consequently, don't expect parallel construction! I might say that with respect to mode of nutrition, that the meadow button mushroom is a saprophyte, that the cedar-apple rust fungus is a parasite (takes its food from another living creature without providing an apparent benefit) as well as an obligate biotroph (it's food source needs to be alive) and a pathogen (causes disease), and that the apple tree is an autotroph (meaning makes its own food). Sure, you make it a little more parallel by calling the button mushroom a "saprogen" or "saprotroph" (with the latter being how I was taught during some of graduate school). Still, it's not always going to line up perfectly with respect to word construction and syntax.
Actually, the history of forest pathology and even all of biology itself hinges precisely on the concepts behind these words, but I reckon I've killed off discussion and any residual interest in this topic has vaporized!
KTSmith
Branched out member
- Location
- Maine, New Hampshire
Not so fast...that's where the "-phyte" part comes in, referring to plants or plant-like organisms. OK, bacteria and fungi may be saprophytes and they are not plants either, but they were considered close enough to have been studied by botanists.
I know you're just joking around, which is great, but there is an important point here. Any term used to subdivide nature into groups can extend into the ridiculous. I try to use terms that are useful and that can be defined, within whatever fuzziness is inevitable! So be my guest!
I know you're just joking around, which is great, but there is an important point here. Any term used to subdivide nature into groups can extend into the ridiculous. I try to use terms that are useful and that can be defined, within whatever fuzziness is inevitable! So be my guest!
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