Epiphyte

An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant or plant-like organism such as kelp. It derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phorophytes.

Epiphytes take part in nutrient cycles and add to both the diversity and biomass of the ecosystem in which they occur, like any other organism.
In some cases, a rainforest tree's epiphytes may weigh several tonnes.
Epiphytes differ from parasitic plants in that they grow on the host for physical support only, and do not draw nourishment from it.

Back to Woodland Ecology & Wildlife →

Source: Wikipedia · Image: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

SHADETHRIVE

Gardens for the dark corners — ferns, hostas, and low-light greenery.

Get new guides by emailOccasional emails. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

InformationAbout Contact Privacy Policy Terms of Service Disclaimer Affiliate Disclosure Cookie Policy

Every entry, image, and fact is drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, used under public-domain and Creative Commons licenses. No content is AI-generated.