epiphyte

[ ep-uh-fahyt ]
/ ˈɛp əˌfaɪt /

noun Botany.

a plant that grows above the ground, supported nonparasitically by another plant or object, and deriving its nutrients and water from rain, the air, dust, etc.; air plant; aerophyte.

Origin of epiphyte

First recorded in 1840–50; epi- + -phyte

OTHER WORDS FROM epiphyte

ep·i·phyt·ic [ep-uh-fit-ik] /ˌɛp əˈfɪt ɪk/, ep·i·phyt·i·cal, adjective ep·i·phyt·i·cal·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for epiphyte

British Dictionary definitions for epiphyte

epiphyte
/ (ˈɛpɪˌfaɪt) /

noun

a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic on it

Derived forms of epiphyte

epiphytic (ˌɛpɪˈfɪtɪk), epiphytal or epiphytical, adjective epiphytically, adverb

Scientific definitions for epiphyte

epiphyte
[ ĕpə-fīt′ ]

A plant that grows on another plant and depends on it for support but not food. Epiphytes get moisture and nutrients from the air or from small pools of water that collect on the host plant. Spanish moss and many orchids are epiphytes. Also called aerophyte air plant

Other words from epiphyte

epiphytic adjective (ĕp′ə-fĭtĭk)