epiphyte

epiphyte
—epiphytic /ep'euh fit"ik/, epiphytical, adj. —epiphytically, adv.
/ep"euh fuyt'/, n. Bot.
a plant that grows above the ground, supported nonparasitically by another plant or object, and deriving its nutrients and water from rain, the air, dust, etc.; air plant; aerophyte.
[1840-50; EPI- + -PHYTE]

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Any plant that grows upon or is attached to another plant or object merely for physical support.

Epiphytes are found mostly in the tropics and are also known as air plants because they have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient source. They obtain water and minerals from rain and from debris on the supporting plants. Orchids, ferns, and members of the pineapple family are common tropical epiphytes. Lichens, mosses, liverworts, and algae are epiphytes of temperate regions.

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▪ plant type
 any plant that grows upon or is in some manner attached to another plant or object merely for physical support. Epiphytes are primarily tropical in distribution and are often known as air plants because they have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient source. They obtain water and minerals from rain and also from debris that collects on the supporting plants. Orchids, ferns, and members of the pineapple family (Bromelialacae) are common tropical epiphytes. Lichens (lichen), mosses (moss), liverworts (liverwort), and algae are epiphytes of temperate regions. Mistletoes (mistletoe), which are partly parasitic on their host plants, are sometimes considered to be epiphytes.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • épiphyte — [ epifit ] adj. • 1839; lat. sav., du gr. epi « sur » et phuton « plante » ♦ Bot. Qui croît sur d autres plantes sans en tirer sa nourriture (opposé à parasite). Le lierre, les lianes sont des plantes épiphytes. Orchidée épiphyte, qui pousse sur… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Epiphyte — Épiphyte Des orchidées en compagnie de broméliacées ( Tillandsias sp. ) sur un arbre dans un jardin à Hawaii …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Epiphyte B & B — (Cow Bay,Австралия) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: 22 Silkwood Rd, 4873 C …   Каталог отелей

  • Epiphyte — Ep i*phyte, n. [Gr. epi upon + fyto n plant, ? to grow: cf. F. [ e]piphyte.] 1. (Bot.) An air plant which grows on other plants, but does not derive its nourishment from them. See {Air plant}. [1913 Webster] 2. (Med.) A vegetable parasite growing …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • epiphyte — 1816 (implied in epiphytous), from EPI (Cf. epi ) upon + phyte plant (PHYTO (Cf. phyto )) …   Etymology dictionary

  • epiphyte — [ep′ə fīt΄] n. [ EPI + PHYTE] 1. a plant that grows on another plant but is not a parasite and produces its own food by photosynthesis, as certain orchids, mosses, and lichens; air plant 2. a plant parasitic on the external surface of an animal… …   English World dictionary

  • Épiphyte — Des orchidées en compagnie de broméliacées ( Tillandsias sp. ) sur un arbre dans un jardin à Hawaii …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Epiphyte — An epiphyte is an organism that grows upon or attaches to a living plant. Epiphyte is one of the subdivisions of the Raunkiær system. The term most commonly refers to higher plants, but epiphytic bacteria, fungi (epiphytic fungi), algae, lichens …   Wikipedia

  • epiphyte — noun Date: circa 1847 a plant that derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and grows usually on another plant …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • epiphyte — organisms growing on or associated with the substrate …   Dictionary of ichthyology

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