[mod. f. AERO- + Gr. φῠτ-όν plant.] ‘Plants growing wholly in the air; such as epiphytal orchids, many lichens, bromeliads.’ Treas. Bot., 1866. In L. pl. aerophyta specially applied to lichens, as the division of the Thallogens which live in the air. (Henfrey.)
1840. Timbs, Year Bk. Facts, 190. [It] appears as an aerophyte in Nees von Esenbeck’s valuable appendix to R. Brown’s Botan. Schriften.
1858. Gray, Bot. Text-bk., 394. Aërophytes, Air-plants.
