Word Study
chamaephyte
CIDE DICTIONARY
chamaephyte, n. [Gr. chamai` on the ground + -phyte.].
a perennial plant that sets its dormant vegetative buds just at or above the surface of the ground. [PJC]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
chamaephyte, n. a plant whose buds are on or near the ground.
Etymology
Gk khamai on the ground + -PHYTE
For further exploring for "chamaephyte" in Webster Dictionary Online