The gut flora are the microorganisms that normally live in the igestive tract and can perform a number of useful functions for their hosts. Though widely known as the "intestinal microflora", this is technically a misnomer since the word root "flora" pertains to plants and biota refers to microbial life such as bacteria other than plants. Thus the more appropriate term "intestinal microbiota" is coming into use, though its use has not eclipsed the entrenched use and recognition of "flora" with regard to intestinal bacteria, and for the time being, both terms are being used in different textbooks.