<P> An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air , rain , water ( in marine environments ) or from debris accumulating around it . Epiphytes take part in nutrient cycles and add to both the diversity and biomass of the ecosystem in which they occur like any other organism . They are an important source of food for many species . Typically , the older parts of a plant will have more epiphytes growing on them . Epiphytes differ from parasites in that epiphytes grow on other plants for physical support and do not necessarily negatively affect the host . An epiphytic organism that is not a plant is sometimes called an epibiont . Epiphytes are usually found in the temperate zone ( e.g. , many mosses , liverworts , lichens , and algae ) or in the tropics ( e.g. , many ferns , cacti , orchids , and bromeliads ) . Epiphyte species make good houseplants due to their minimal water and soil requirements . Epiphytes provide a rich and diverse habitat for other organisms including animals , fungi , bacteria , and myxomycetes . </P>
<P> An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air , rain , water ( in marine environments ) or from debris accumulating around it . Epiphytes take part in nutrient cycles and add to both the diversity and biomass of the ecosystem in which they occur like any other organism . They are an important source of food for many species . Typically , the older parts of a plant will have more epiphytes growing on them . Epiphytes differ from parasites in that epiphytes grow on other plants for physical support and do not necessarily negatively affect the host . An epiphytic organism that is not a plant is sometimes called an epibiont . Epiphytes are usually found in the temperate zone ( e.g. , many mosses , liverworts , lichens , and algae ) or in the tropics ( e.g. , many ferns , cacti , orchids , and bromeliads ) . Epiphyte species make good houseplants due to their minimal water and soil requirements . Epiphytes provide a rich and diverse habitat for other organisms including animals , fungi , bacteria , and myxomycetes . </P>
a plant that grows on another plant is called
a plant that grows on another plant is called
epiphyte
epiphyte