semiepiphyte
/ˌsɛmiˈɛpɪfaɪt/
noun
- A plant that grows on another plant for support but also sends roots into the ground, especially in its early life.
- A semiepiphyte like the philodendron can survive both on a host and in soil.
- Many tropical vines are semiepiphytes that climb trees and later connect to the ground.
- The strangler fig starts as a semiepiphyte, rooting in the soil as it grows.
Synonyms