epiphyte

Everyday

An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, usually a tree, for support, but does not take food from it; it gets water and nutrients from the air, rain and bits of rubbish. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on rainforests and plant adaptations, epiphytes like many orchids, bromeliads, mosses and ferns live high on tree branches to reach sunlight. It is a good example of a plant that uses another without harming it (unlike a parasite). Phrases: «epiphytic plants», «epiphytes in the rainforest canopy».

Examples

• An orchid growing on a tree branch is an epiphyte. tree →
• Epiphytes live high in the rainforest to get more light. tree →
• Moss on an oak tree is a kind of epiphyte. tree →
• Bromeliads are epiphytes that hold water in their leaves. tree →
• An epiphyte does not steal food from its tree. tree →
• Tiny frogs lay eggs in pools inside epiphytes. tree →

Note

Say it «EP-ih-fite». Plural: epiphytes. Adjective: epiphytic. Trap: an epiphyte is not a parasite; mistletoe is a parasite because it takes food from the tree, but an orchid is an epiphyte.