1. Plants that have roots extending deep into the ground to reach groundwater or the water table, allowing them to survive in arid or semi-arid regions.
Usage: technical; botany; ecology; plural form; singular is phreatophyte

Examples

• Phreatophytes like mesquite and tamarisk can thrive in deserts by tapping into underground water sources.
• The phreatophytes in the region have adapted to drought conditions through their extensive root systems.
• Farmers sometimes remove phreatophytes because they consume large amounts of groundwater.
• Willows and cottonwoods are common phreatophytes found along river valleys.
• In arid climates, phreatophytes play a crucial role in stabilizing soil and preventing erosion.
• The deep roots of phreatophytes allow them to access water that shallow-rooted plants cannot reach.