1. Plants that grow on other plants (usually trees) without harming them, obtaining moisture and nutrients from the air and rain rather than from soil.
Usage: Plural form of epiphyte; Common in tropical and subtropical forests; Botanical term

Examples

• Orchids and bromeliads are common epiphytes found in rainforests.
• The tree branches were covered with epiphytes that thrived in the humid climate.
• Epiphytes do not parasitize their host plants; they simply use them for support.
• Mosses and lichens are types of epiphytes that grow on tree bark.
• In tropical regions, epiphytes can make up a significant portion of the forest's plant biomass.
• The gardener cultivated epiphytes on a wooden frame to create a living wall display.