epiphyte
/ˈɛpəˌfaɪt/
noun
- A plant that grows on another plant, such as a tree, for physical support but does not take nutrients from it.
- The orchid is a common epiphyte that clings to tree branches in tropical forests.
- An epiphyte gets its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain, not from its host plant.
- Many ferns grow as epiphytes on the trunks of large trees in the rainforest.
Synonyms