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December 18, 2007
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Epiphytes live on tree branches and trunks and get moisture and nutrients from rain and mist.
A specialized but diverse set of plants called "epiphytes" has evolved to live upon tree branches and trunks in many forest ecosystems. Rather than getting their water and nutrients from the soil, epiphytes are able to capture moisture and dissovled nutrients in rain and mist, and are thus independent of their host trees.
Credit: Nalini M. Nadkarni
Images credited to the National Science Foundation, a federal agency, are in the public domain. The images were created by employees of the United States Government as part of their official duties or prepared by contractors as "works for hire" for NSF. You may freely use NSF-credited images and, at your discretion, credit NSF with a "Courtesy: National Science Foundation" notation.
Additional information about general usage can be found in Conditions.
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