Defn: A spherulitic cavity often with concentric chambers, observed in some volcanic rocks, as in rhyolitic lavas. It is supposed to be produced by expanding gas, whence the name.
LITHOPHYTE
Lith"o*phyte, n. Etym: [Litho- + Gr. lithophyte.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A hard, or stony, plantlike organism, as the gorgonians, corals, and corallines, esp. those gorgonians having a calcareous axis. All the lithophytes except the corallines are animals.
LITHOPHYTIC
Lith`o*phyt"ic, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Of or pertaining to lithophytes.
LITHOPHYTOUS
Li*thoph"y*tous, a.
Defn: Lithophytic.
LITHOSIAN
Li*tho"sian, n. Etym: [From NL. Lithosia, the typical genus, fr. Gr.
(Zoöl.)
Defn: Any one of various species of moths belonging to the family
Lithosidæ. Many of them are beautifully colored.
LITHOSPHERE Lith"o*sphere, n. [Litho- + sphere.] (Phys. Geog.) (a) The solid earth as distinguished from its fluid envelopes, the hydrosphere and atmosphere. (b) The outer part of the solid earth, the portion undergoing change through the gradual transfer of material by volcanic eruption, the circulation of underground water, and the process of erosion and deposition. It is, therefore, regarded as a third mobile envelope comparable with the hydrosphere and atmosphere.