Hypogeal
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2011) |
Look up hypogeal in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Hypogeal, hypogean, hypogeic and hypogeous (lit. 'underground'; from
surface.In
germinating seed remain non-photosynthetic, inside the seed shell, and below ground.[2] The converse, where the cotyledons expand, throw off the seed shell and become photosynthetic above the ground, is epigeal germination
.
In water purification works, the hypogeal (or Schmutzdecke) layer is a biological film just below the surface of slow sand filters. It contains microorganisms that remove bacteria and trap contaminant particles.
The terms hypogean and hypogeic are used for
epigeic
.
The term hypogeous is used for fungi with underground fruiting bodies - for example,
epigeous
.