Epiphytes Growing on Tropical Trees
Although many plants require large areas of bare soil to grow, some varieties don't need any soil at all. Epiphytes are plants that grow above the surface of the soil, attaching themselves to host plants, such as tropical trees. Although epiphytes grow easily in their natural environment, their unusual characteristics make them difficult to grow as houseplants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Characteristics
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Epiphytes, also called air plants, thrive in warm, humid climates, including rain forests. These plants can vary in size and appearance, depending on the variety. Many epiphytes produce showy, tropical flowers that may appear to come out of the host tree, rather than the smaller, elevated plant that lives in the trunk or foliage of the tropical tree.
Requirements
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Epiphytes require at least minimal amounts of sunlight. While these small plants can't survive in full shade on the forest floor, their elevated perches high in tropical trees provides them with adequate amounts of sunlight necessary for survival. These plants don't require soil moisture -- they rely on healthy host plants for nutrients.
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Growth
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The aerial roots extend along the outside of the host plant and absorb nutrients from the dust that washes off the surface of the tropical tree's leaves and bark during periodic rainfalls. Since the roots have no soil nearby to retain moisture, epiphytes must store moisture between rainfalls. Some varieties store moisture in their leaves, while others, such as Myrmecodia and Hydnophytum, store the water in swollen structures near the basses of their stems. Since these plants rely on their tropical host tree, the death of the host tree often results in the death of the attached epiphytes. Some varieties of epiphytes, such as the Asian peepul tree, form long roots around the host tree, creating the appearance of strangling the tree. However, the epiphytes do not harm their hosts.
Reproduction
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Most epiphytes reproduce through seed production, much like other plants. Seed dispersal that leaves the seeds on the forest floor usually results in poor growth and early death, due to a lack of sunlight and water immersion. Birds and wind help distribute the fertile seeds to other tropical trees. In suitable areas with adequate sunlight, these dispersed seeds may germinate and grow into mature specimens.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit rainforest tree laden with epiphytes, vines and lianas image by Lars Lachmann from Fotolia.com
