copyedit date January 2012 A phreatophyte is a deep root ed plant that obtains a significant portion of the water that it needs from the phreatic zone zone of saturation or the capillary fringe above the phreatic zone. Phreatophytes are plants that are supplied with surface water and often have their roots constantly in touch with moisture. A phreatophyte is one that absorbs its water from a constant source on the ground. They can usually be found along streams where there is a steady flow of surface or groundwater and in areas where the water table is near the surface. Phreatophytes live in areas with standing or running water, in arid areas and along the riverbeds and areas, apparently dry, where the water table is very shallow on the surface. These plants have very deep roots that reach the water table. Phreatophytes are not only characteristic of arid or desert zones, but also wetlands, flood plain floodplain , depressions that hold water and estuarie s. In the wetlands, ecological classification does not provide a particularly special for agriculture, since in this case, most of the plants in the regions of high rainfall can deepen their roots to the top of the capillary fringe exists immediately above the water table, and function well as a phreatophytes, in this case receive the label of mesophytic s. Phreatophytic artificial extensions, manmade, are used as a method to purify greywater . Biological value They are plants of great ecological value, fast growing pioneers and highly resistant to disease. They make excellent fodder for livestock and provide nesting areas and shelter for fauna. They are used as fuel, cheap construction material, and basketry. Many of the plants grow in degraded waters, salty or saline, that are useless for agriculture. Phreatophyte plants help to purify these waters and their roots fix heavy metals with a bacteria filter. For example ... sativa , is a widespread phreatophyte plant of great economic value. Trees like the ash , Disambiguation ... more details
attenuata is a facultative phreatophyte . The two species are less strictly tied to the water table ... . ref cite journal author Froend, R.H. Drake, P.L. year 2006 title Defining phreatophyte response to reduced ... more details
phreatophyte . The two species are less strictly tied to the water table and hence able ... 2006 title Defining phreatophyte response to reduced water availability preliminary investigations ... more details
. Firstly, this species is phreatophyte phreatophytic , that is, its long taproot extends down to the water ... and redistribution in the Australian woody phreatophyte, Banksia prionotes journal Annals of Botany ... more details
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