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Habitat Most epiphytic plants live in rain
forest habitats or similar, where the humidity levels are high, and the
light at ground level is low. A quick look at any Epiphyte will show you
that it is not capable of growing to the great height needed in rain
forest conditions to reach the life-giving light source.
However, most areas of the world have areas that are
suitable habitat for a wide range of epiphytic plants. Here in the
UK for instance, such woodlands exist in areas - particularly to the
west - such as South Wales and even Cornwall. These areas have high
annual rainfall, and are home to numerous ferns and mosses, which attach
themselves to trees in order to take themselves further up the 'light
chain'!
The image below, shows a group of Epiphytic ferns and
mosses on trees in a cloud forest range.
Some epiphytic plants use their climbing
skills to clamber up tall trees. Vines and 'climbers' such as many of
the Philodendrons anchor themselves to the soil at the base of a tree,
then clamber up through the branches to the all important light source.
Water and food collection by Epiphytes
Most Epiphytes collect rainwater by
channelling the falling water into tightly arranged whorls of leaves
which then 'guide' the water down into a tight basal 'water' tank' of
leaves at their base. Typical are the urn plants, but many other
epiphytic plants will also be seen to do the same by their leaf
formation - orchids, upon close inspection, will be seen to channel
falling rain in to the base of their stems and hence into a tangles
group of aerial roots. This tangles root system will also collect
falling debris from their host tree. This in turn, rots down and
provides the plant with all important nutrition.
The aerial roots on many Epiphytes are
capable of absorbing water from the damp atmosphere. Some Epiphytes will
also have swollen bulb-like stems in which they can store the water.
Water collected in the 'reservoir' of the Urn Plants -
Aechmeas other Bromeliads - soon becomes a nitrogen-rich food store as
insects and other dust debris are washed down and eventually decompose -
releasing the store of 'liquid fertilizer ' to the plant as and when it
requires it.
Clever things these Epiphites!
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