cryptophyte
a plant whose buds or shoot apices remain below the ground surface or in the soil under water during unfavorable seasons —note 1. cryptophyte is one of the major life-forms of Raunkiaer —note 2. cryptophytes include geophytes, helophytes, and hydrophytes —see chamaephyte, phaneroptype, hemicryptophyte This definition last updated 10/25/2008