mesic
Neither dry nor waterlogged
Mesic describes environments with moderate moisture—neither too wet nor too dry.
The term appears primarily in ecology and botany to characterize habitats, soils, or plant communities: mesic forests, mesic prairies.
A mesic site typically supports lush vegetation without being swampy.
The word contrasts with xeric (dry) and hydric (wet).
Moisture in atmosphere
- dampnessMild presence of water
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
- mistFine airborne moisture
dew · wetness · hydric · xeric · evapotranspiration · groundwater · percolation · drainage
Mild, avoiding extremes
- woodlandForested land area
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
- shrublandBush-dominated vegetation zone
prairie · understory · canopy · biome · forest · meadow · riparian · bottomland
Spore-spreading vascular plant
- mossSpore-bearing ground cover
- wildflowerUncultivated flowering plant
- herbaceousHaving soft green stems
- perennialRecurring each year
deciduous · foliage · lush · verdant · leafy · undergrowth · groundcover · epiphyte
Range of life forms
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- floraPlants of a region
- faunaAnimal life collectively
- successionFollowing in order
adaptation · endemic · niche · symbiosis · keystone · pollination · decomposer · community
humidity
Moisture in atmosphere
- dampnessMild presence of water
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- rainfallWater falling from clouds
mist · dew · wetness · hydric · xeric · evapotranspiration · groundwater · percolation · drainage · saturation
temperate
Mild, avoiding extremes
- woodlandForested land area
- grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
- savannaTropical grassland, sparse trees
shrubland · prairie · understory · canopy · biome · forest · meadow · riparian · bottomland · floodplain
fern
Spore-spreading vascular plant
- mossSpore-bearing ground cover
- wildflowerUncultivated flowering plant
- herbaceousHaving soft green stems
perennial · deciduous · foliage · lush · verdant · leafy · undergrowth · groundcover · epiphyte · lichen
biodiversity
Range of life forms
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
- floraPlants of a region
- faunaAnimal life collectively
succession · adaptation · endemic · niche · symbiosis · keystone · pollination · decomposer · community · assemblage