GEOPHYTE (from Gk. 113, ge, earth + ibtrr6r, phyton, plant). A plant whose perennial organs live under or close to the ground. The term geophilous has also been applied to such plants. The majority of geophytes have two distinct life aspects, corresponding to the periods of greater and lesser physiological activity. In the so-called growth period (summer in the higher latitudes, the rainy season in arid low latitudes), geophytes are conspicuous landscape features, by reason of aerial organs of various kinds, such as aerial stems, leaves, flowers; in the so-called resting period, however (winter in the higher latitudes, the dry season in arid low latitudes), they are in conspicuous by reason of the relative absence of aerial organs. The most extreme geophytes are those whose organs are entirely beneath the soil during periods of lesser activity; examples of this class are bulbous plants (such as onions and lilies), plants with corms (such as Indian turnip and spring beauty), and rootstock plants (such as sweet-flag and bracken-fern). In the cases cited, the entire plant is often hidden from ordi nary view during the resting season. One may also include in this category plants (like the carrot and dock) whose stems die down to the root at the close of a season of active growth; such plants usually have prominent roots. The geophytic habit is also shown, though to a less extreme degree, by ordinary lawn grasses and by clover; in these and in similar plants the peren nating organs are close to the soil rather than beneath it. Biennials, such as mullein and even ing primrose, have rosettes closely appressed to the soil in the winter or dry period, while in the growing period erect stems are sent up into the air. In most geophytes reserve foods are stored
in the underground parts, and in many cases these parts are greatly enlarged; ordinal y bulbs, roots like turnips and beets, and potato tubers illustrate this habit. The chief advantage of the geophytic habit in high latitudes,.is doubtless the attainment of protection from excessive cold and injuries consequent thereon; in arid regions, pro. tection from excessive transpiration is secured by a sojourn in the soil. See STEM and ROOT.
GE'OPONfIKA (Gk. -yEkrirovuai, nom. pl. of yeurovisc6s, geOponikos, relating to agriculture). A Greek treatise on agriculture. It was given its present form in the tenth century by an unknown hand at the request of the Emperor Constantine VII. (Porphyrogenitus), to whom it is dedi cated. The basis of this work was a compilation made in .the sixth or early seventh century by a certain Scholiasticus Cassianus Bassus, from the earlier works of Vindarius Anatolius of Bery tus, and Didymus, of the fourth or fifth century. The names of some of the earlier authors to whom reference made are Africanus, Apuleius, Damogeron, Democritus, Diophanes, Florentinus, Leontinus, Pamphilus, Paxamus, the Quintilii, Varro, and Zoroastres. The twenty parts into which the treatise is divided contain a mass of rules and directions bearing on the daily life of the husbandman. The best edition is that of Beckh (Leipzig, 1895). Consult Krumba,cher, By zantinische Litteraturgeschichte (Munich, 1897), pp. 261ff., and the works there referred to.