Dryophyllum

noun

Dry·​o·​phyl·​lum

ˌdrīōˈfiləm

botany

: a genus of widely distributed Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary fossil trees (family Fagaceae) considered to be ancestors of modern oaks and beeches

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from dry- + -phyllum

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined above

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