phytogeography

noun

phy·​to·​ge·​og·​ra·​phy ˌfī-tō-jē-ˈä-grə-fē How to pronounce phytogeography (audio)
: the biogeography of plants
phytogeographer noun
phytogeographical adjective
or phytogeographic
phytogeographically adverb

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French phytogéographie, from phyto- phyto- + géographie geography, as translation of Danish Plantegeographie or German Pflanzengeographie

Note: The Danish word and the German equivalent were disseminated by the publication of Grundtræk til en almindelig Plantengeographie (1822), and its German translation Grundzüge einer allgemeinen Pflanzengeographie (1823), by the Danish botanist and politician Joakim Frederik Schouw (1789-1852).

First Known Use

circa 1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phytogeography was circa 1847

Dictionary Entries Near phytogeography

Cite this Entry

“Phytogeography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phytogeography. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on phytogeography

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!