anheliophilous, anheliophile, anheliophily Thriving in diffuse sunlight; for example, heliconias [a combination of helio-, `sun” and conio-, `dust”]. There are about eighty heliconia species in the New World tropics. With their paddle-shaped leaves and bright zigzaggy bracts, these members of the banana family erupt wherever sunlight taps the...anheliophile Any creature which thrives in diffuse sunlight.