Have you heard of certain plants that, instead of growing on firm ground, do so almost in the air? Acrobats of nature, is the case of epiphytic plants that use the help of others to grow and develop.
Its uniqueness
Many believe that they are climbing plants but the central characteristic of epiphytic plants is that use other plants or branches as support to grow.
Climbing plants need the soil to survive and that is why they are rooted in the earth but that does not happen in the case of epiphytes because they germinate directly on tree branches and trunks using them to live. They are known as aerial plants due to their ability to not root in the ground and the independence they have with respect to the trunk or surface on which they adhere.
How the plant lives
Some examples of epiphytic plants are moss, lichens, and certain types of ferns, bromeliads, and orchidslike the beautiful and unique black orchidknown in the world for the dark color of its petals.
Our epiphytic plants are not parasites but ordinary plants with the exception that they have special roots that serve as support so that they can be attached to the branches and trunks.
These plants use the rain to survive and carry out the process of photosynthesis. While the roots are responsible for adhering to the support, certain parts of the plant’s structure, such as the scales and the cups, are responsible for capturing and maintaining moisture.
It is common to find these plants in rainforests and temperate rainforests.
