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[[Image:DirkvdM red flat epiphyte.jpg|thumb|300px|Near [[Orosí]], Costa Rica]]
[[Image:DirkvdM epiphytes.jpg|thumb|300px|Epiphytes on a tree near [[Santa Elena]] in [[Costa Rica]]]]
[[image:Epiphytes.jpg|right|thumb|300px|An example of an epiphyte assemblage of [[orchid]]s and [[bromeliad]]s in a garden setting in [[Hawaii]]]]
An '''epiphyte''' is an organism that grows upon or attached to a living plant. The term most commonly refers to higher [[plant]]s, but epiphytic [[bacteria]], [[fungus|fungi]] ([[epiphytic fungus|epiphytic fungi]]), [[algae]], [[lichen]]s, [[moss]]es, and [[ferns]] exist as well. The term ''epiphytic'' derives from the Greek ''epi-'' (meaning 'upon') and ''phyton'' (meaning 'plant'). Epiphytic plants are sometimes called "air plants" because they do not root in soil. However, there are many aquatic species of algae, including [[seaweed]]s, that are ''epiphytes'' on other aquatic plants (seaweeds or aquatic [[angiosperms]]).
Epiphytic organisms usually derive only physical support and not nutrition from their host, though they may sometimes damage the host. [[Parasitic plant|Parasitic]] and semiparasitic plants growing on other plants ([[mistletoe]] is well known) are not epiphytes.
Epiphytic plants use [[photosynthesis]] for energy and (where non-aquatic) obtain moisture from the air or from dampness ([[rain]] and cloud moisture) on the surface of their hosts. [[Root]]s may develop primarily for attachment, and specialized structures (for example, cups and scales) may be used to collect or hold moisture.
Epiphytic plants attached to their hosts high in the canopy have an advantage over herbs restricted to the ground where there is less light and herbivores may be more active.
Epiphytic plants are also important to certain animals that may live in their water reservoirs, such as some types of [[frog]]s and [[arthropod]]s.
The best-known epiphytic plants include [[moss]]es, [[lichen]]s, [[orchid]]s, and [[bromeliad]]s such as [[Spanish moss]] (of the genus ''[[Tillandsia]]''), but epiphytic plants may be found in every major group of the plant kingdom. Assemblages of large epiphytes occur most abundantly in moist tropical forests, but mosses and lichens occur as epiphytes in almost any environment with trees.
Some epiphytic plants are large trees that begin their lives high in the forest canopy. Over decades they send roots down the trunk of a host tree eventually overpowering and replacing it. The [[rata]] of New Zealand is an example of this, epiphytes that end up as free standing trees are also called [[hemiphyte|hemiphytes]].
In Europe there are no dedicated epiphytic plants using roots, although grass, small bushes or small trees may grow on the branches of other plants.
The first important monograph on epiphytic plant ecology was written by [[A.F.W. Schimper]] (''Die epiphytische Vegetation Amerikas'', 1888).
Epiphyte is one of the subdivisions of the [[Raunkiær system]].
== Popular culture ==
The fictitious company '''Epiphyte''' features prominently in [[Neal Stephenson]]'s novel ''[[Cryptonomicon]]''.
== See also ==
{{commonscat|Epiphytes}}
* [[Epiphyllum]] - Orchid Cacti
* [[Resurrection fern]] - An epiphytal fern of the Southeastern [[United States|U.S.]].
* [[Parasitic plant]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A12339191 BBC: Caring for an air plant]
* [http://www.jardinbotanicolankester.org/ing/index.html Lankester Botanical Garden]
[[Category:Ecology]]
[[Category:Epiphytes]]
[[Category:plant morphology]]
[[Image:DirkvdM epiphytes.jpg|thumb|300px|Epiphytes on a tree near [[Santa Elena]] in [[Costa Rica]]]]
[[image:Epiphytes.jpg|right|thumb|300px|An example of an epiphyte assemblage of [[orchid]]s and [[bromeliad]]s in a garden setting in [[Hawaii]]]]
An '''epiphyte''' is an organism that grows upon or attached to a living plant. The term most commonly refers to higher [[plant]]s, but epiphytic [[bacteria]], [[fungus|fungi]] ([[epiphytic fungus|epiphytic fungi]]), [[algae]], [[lichen]]s, [[moss]]es, and [[ferns]] exist as well. The term ''epiphytic'' derives from the Greek ''epi-'' (meaning 'upon') and ''phyton'' (meaning 'plant'). Epiphytic plants are sometimes called "air plants" because they do not root in soil. However, there are many aquatic species of algae, including [[seaweed]]s, that are ''epiphytes'' on other aquatic plants (seaweeds or aquatic [[angiosperms]]).
Epiphytic organisms usually derive only physical support and not nutrition from their host, though they may sometimes damage the host. [[Parasitic plant|Parasitic]] and semiparasitic plants growing on other plants ([[mistletoe]] is well known) are not epiphytes.
Epiphytic plants use [[photosynthesis]] for energy and (where non-aquatic) obtain moisture from the air or from dampness ([[rain]] and cloud moisture) on the surface of their hosts. [[Root]]s may develop primarily for attachment, and specialized structures (for example, cups and scales) may be used to collect or hold moisture.
Epiphytic plants attached to their hosts high in the canopy have an advantage over herbs restricted to the ground where there is less light and herbivores may be more active.
Epiphytic plants are also important to certain animals that may live in their water reservoirs, such as some types of [[frog]]s and [[arthropod]]s.
The best-known epiphytic plants include [[moss]]es, [[lichen]]s, [[orchid]]s, and [[bromeliad]]s such as [[Spanish moss]] (of the genus ''[[Tillandsia]]''), but epiphytic plants may be found in every major group of the plant kingdom. Assemblages of large epiphytes occur most abundantly in moist tropical forests, but mosses and lichens occur as epiphytes in almost any environment with trees.
Some epiphytic plants are large trees that begin their lives high in the forest canopy. Over decades they send roots down the trunk of a host tree eventually overpowering and replacing it. The [[rata]] of New Zealand is an example of this, epiphytes that end up as free standing trees are also called [[hemiphyte|hemiphytes]].
In Europe there are no dedicated epiphytic plants using roots, although grass, small bushes or small trees may grow on the branches of other plants.
The first important monograph on epiphytic plant ecology was written by [[A.F.W. Schimper]] (''Die epiphytische Vegetation Amerikas'', 1888).
Epiphyte is one of the subdivisions of the [[Raunkiær system]].
== Popular culture ==
The fictitious company '''Epiphyte''' features prominently in [[Neal Stephenson]]'s novel ''[[Cryptonomicon]]''.
== See also ==
{{commonscat|Epiphytes}}
* [[Epiphyllum]] - Orchid Cacti
* [[Resurrection fern]] - An epiphytal fern of the Southeastern [[United States|U.S.]].
* [[Parasitic plant]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A12339191 BBC: Caring for an air plant]
* [http://www.jardinbotanicolankester.org/ing/index.html Lankester Botanical Garden]
[[Category:Ecology]]
[[Category:Epiphytes]]
[[Category:plant morphology]]