Epiphytes Plants

    Epiphytes are plants that grow on larger plants. They are like passengers going along for a ride! Epiphytes produce their own food through photosynthesis. They collect their own water and nutrients and rarely harm the larger plants they live on. So what’s the advantage of being an epiphyte? Position! Most plants begin life as seedlings with their roots in the ground. In woodland forests and rain forests, tall trees block sunlight and absorb most of the water from the ground. Small plants don’t have much of a chance there. Epiphytic plants, however, begin as seedlings with their roots on tall plants, off the ground. Animals drop the seeds of epiphytes in places like tree branches.

Some kinds of orchids are epiphytic.Several kinds of epiphytes can live on a single tree branch. These seeds grow roots in the dirt and debris that collect in the tree bark. The plants get moisture from trapped rainwater and from the air. Since epiphytic plants begin their lives in high places, they don’t need to grow long stems to reach the sunlight. They’re already there!

 

 

 
 
    An epiphyte is a plant that normally grows on another plant for support. It is not parasitic, but uses the host plant for support only.  Epiphytes can be found in many different environments all over the world, but many of the most beautiful come from the tropic rain forests.  Here epiphytic plants can be found high up in the tree canopy, growing from branches, rooting in pockets of  humus, decaying leaves or other organic matter. 

Many different plant families contain epiphytic members, and they are not always found growing epiphytically.  For instance many epiphytes can be found growing on rocks or even in soil, anywhere where the conditions are suitable in fact.  Epiphytes are often found growing in shady conditions, under tree canopies and so on and these are usually adapted to relatively low light levels and many therefore can make good houseplants.  The cactus family for instance contains many epiphytic members and here the stems have become flattened and leaf-like, the spines have been very much reduced and many have become popular in the home such as the Christmas Cacti, Easter Cacti and the Orchid Cacti (epicacti or epiphyllums).