A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

xer-, xero-: in Gk. comp., dry, as in withered structures [> Gk. xeros,-a,-on, dry; syn. L. siccus,-a,-um, dry]; opp. Gk. hydr-, hydro-, L. liquidus,-a,-um (adj.A), q.v.; cf. scariosus,-a,-um (adj.A) q.v.: scarious, i.e. of thin dry membranous texture and not green, papery; opp. herbaceus,-a,-um (adj.A), q.v.

- xerocarpus, with dry fruits; xeromorphus, xeromorphicus, structurally adapted for dryness; xerophilus, loving dry places, xerophilous, xerophilicous; xerophyticus, living in dry habitats; xerophyllus, with dry leaves, xerophyllous.

Xeranthemum, from Gk. xeros, dry and anthos, a flower, alluding to the persistent form and color of the dried flower heads; Xerobotrys Nuttall; Xerochloa R.Br.; Xerochlamys J. G. Baker; Xerocomus Quélet, a fungus; Xerocoprinus R. Maire, a fungus; Xerodiscus F. Petrak, a lichen; Xerophyllum, from Gk. xeros, dry and phyllon, a leaf, alluding to the dry, grass-like leaves that are tenacious and used by Indians to make water-tight baskets.