Proper spelling for the air plants,?

Question

That are aboral but not parashetic living mostly in South America?

Answer 1

The word you are searching is  ' Epiphytes' The other equivalent words are - " Aerophyte " or " Air plants "

Epiphytic organisms usually derive only physical support and not nutrition from their host, though they may sometimes damage the host.

Parasitic and semiparasitic plants growing on other plants (mistletoe is well known) are not "true" epiphytes (a designation usually given to fully autotrophic epiphytes), but are still epiphytic in habit.

Epiphytic plants use photosynthesis for energy and (where non-aquatic) obtain moisture from the air or from dampness (rain and cloud moisture) on the surface of their hosts.

Roots may develop primarily for attachment, and specialized structures (for example, cups and scales) may be used to collect or hold moisture.

Epiphytic plants attached to their hosts high in the canopy have an advantage over herbs restricted to the ground where there is less light and herbivores may be more active.

The dictionary meaning of the word "Epiphyte" is given below -

It is a noun -

A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a staghorn fern, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called "aerophyte",OR

"Air plant."



Geography Dictionary: epiphyte =

A plant growing on another plant but using it only for support and not for food. Epiphytes are most common in areas of tropical rain forest.



Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: epiphyte

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.

Click on the link below for more information -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphytes