semiparasite
/ˌsɛmiˈpɛrəsaɪt/
noun
- An organism that lives partly as a parasite, getting some nutrients from a host but also capable of photosynthesis or independent feeding.
- The ecologist explained how a semiparasite can weaken a host tree without killing it.
- Mistletoe is a semiparasite that grows on trees and takes water from them but also makes its own food through leaves.
- Some semiparasites attach to the roots of other plants to supplement their nutrition.