epigeous

US: (ep′i jē′əs)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ep•i•ge•ous  (ep′i jē′əs), adj. [Bot.]

1. Botany growing on or close to the ground.
2. Botany (of cotyledons) lifted above ground in germination.

• Greek epígeios on, of the world, equivalent. to epi- epi- + -geios (ge-, stem of gê earth + -ios adjective, adjectival suffix); see -ous
• 1825–35

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

epigeous / ˌɛpɪˈdʒiːəs/ adjective

1. a variant of epigeal

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ep•i•ge•al  (ep′i jē′əl), adj. 

1. [Entomol.] living near the surface of the ground, as on low herbs or other surface vegetation.
2. [Bot.] epigeous.

Also, ep′i•ge′an. 

• epige(ous) + -al¹ 1860–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

epigeal / ˌɛpɪˈdʒiːəl/, epigean, epigeous adjective

1. of or relating to seed germination in which the cotyledons appear above the ground because of the growth of the hypocotyl
2. living or growing on or close to the surface of the ground

Etymology: 19th Century: from Greek epigeios of the earth, from epi- + gē earth