Epiphytes

/ˈɛpɪfaɪts/ noun

Definition

Plural of epiphyte; plants or organisms that grow on another plant without harming it, obtaining moisture and nutrients from the air and rain rather than from soil.

Etymology

From Greek 'epi-' (upon) + 'phyton' (plant). Named for their growth pattern of living on other plants rather than in soil.

Kelly Says

Tropical rainforests are epiphyte wonderlands—orchids, bromeliads, and mosses colonize tree branches so densely that they can be heavier than the branches themselves, creating aerial gardens.

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