Here are some extracts from Wikipedia link on Epiphytes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphyte
Epiphytic plants use photosynthesis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photosynthesis>for energy and (where non-aquatic) obtain moisture from the air or from dampness (rain <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain> and cloud moisture) on the surface of their hosts. Roots <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root> may develop primarily for attachment, and specialized structures (for example, cups and scales) may be used to collect or hold moisture. Epiphytic plants attached to their hosts high in the canopy<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canopy_(forest)>have an advantage over herbs restricted to the ground where there is less light and herbivores may be more active. Epiphytic plants are also important to certain animals that may live in their water reservoirs, such as some types of frogs<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frog>and arthropods <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthropod>. The best-known epiphytic plants include mosses <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moss>, orchids<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchid>, and bromeliads <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bromeliad> such as Spanish moss<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_moss>(of the genus *Tillandsia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tillandsia>*), but epiphytic plants may be found in every major group of the plant kingdom. Assemblages of large epiphytes occur most abundantly in moist tropical forests<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_rainforest>, but mosses and lichens occur as epiphytes in almost any environment with trees. Some epiphytic plants are large trees that begin their lives high in the forest canopy. Over decades they send roots down the trunk of a host tree eventually overpowering and replacing it. The strangler fig<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangler_fig>and the northern rātā <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosideros_robusta> (*Metrosideros*spp.) of New Zealand <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand> are examples of this. Epiphytes that end up as free standing trees are also called hemiepiphytes<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemiepiphyte> . Here are extracts from Wikipedia link on *Syngonium*: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syngonium *Syngonium* is a genus <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genus> of 33 species<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species>of flowering plants <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowering_plant> in the family Araceae<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araceae>, native to tropical <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical> rain forests<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_forest>in Central <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_America> and South America<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America>. They are woody vines <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vine> growing to heights of 10-20 m or more in trees. They have leaves<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaf>that change shape according to the plant's stage of growth, and adult leaf forms are often much more lobed than the juvenile<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juvenile_(organism)>forms usually seen on small house plants <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_plant>. *Syngonium* species are often grown as house plants<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_plant>, usually only in the juvenile foliage stages. For successful growth, a winter minimum temperature <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperature> 16 °C<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celsius>to 18 °C must be maintained, rising to 20 °C to 30 °C during the growing season. They require high humidity <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidity>, including misting the leaves regularly, and good light, but not direct sunlight; they will tolerate low light levels. Water freely from spring to autumn, sparingly in winter. Feed regularly in spring and summer. If juvenile foliage is preferred, cut off all the climbing stems<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_stem>that develop -- the plant will remain bushy, rather than climb, and the leaves will be more arrow-shaped. Repot every second spring. Propagation<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_propagation>is by cuttings or air layering. *Syngonium podophyllum* is the most commonly cultivated species, being used as a houseplant since the late 19th century. It was originally confused with the similar-looking African genus Nephthytis<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephthytis>, and this is still used as a common name for the plant. It was given its own genus in 1879.[1]<http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/plantoftheweek/articles/Arrowhead_Philodendron.htm>Other names include: - Arrowhead plant - Arrowhead vine - Arrowhead Philodendron <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philodendron> - Goosefoot - Trileaf Wonder - African evergreen[2]<http://www.desert-tropicals.com/Plants/Araceae/Syngonium_podophyllum.html> There are several variegated cultivars<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultivar>, the main differences being in the position and extent of the cream or white markings. Some leaves are almost entirely white<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White>, pink <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink> or yellow<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow>. All parts of the plant are poisonous and cause severe mouth pain if eaten. [3] <http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Syngopo.htm> On Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 12:42 PM, Anand Kumar Bhatt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > Again this is for the experts to tell us. But I thought that parasites do > not prepare their food and therefore they don't need the green that is > chlorophyll. I have read botany upto 10th class and that also in the year of > the Lord 1955-56 which is more thaan half a century ago, and naturally at > that time what we read was very basic, what our children study now is much > more advanced. What I remember from those days is that some plants grow > initially on other trees when its seeds are germinated there, and later the > guest tree chokes and kills the host tree. Ficus bengalensis and ficus > religiosa esp. are such plants. They are called Epiphytes. It was on theat > basis that I had statd that the syngonium (?) on the host tree is not > parasite. But I am ready for correction. > Best wishes, > akbhatt > > On Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 11:15 AM, Yazdy Palia <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > >> >> Once again, am not a botanist and would not know the name, however, >> the observation of Mr. Anand that since the leaves are green, it could >> not be a parasite is incorrect. I am a coffee farmer living at the >> edge of a forest and have seen at least three types of parasites and >> all of them have green leaves. I have seen them destroy large trees >> totally. >> One of them grows only on the branches and the seeds are deposited >> there mostly by sunbirds who eat the fruits and drop the seeds that >> have a mucilage around its seeds enough to let the seeds sprout on the >> branches of trees and take root there. Its flowers are white, the >> fruits are around 1/2 inch long and red in colour and the leaves are >> green throughout its life. >> The second type of parasite that I have seen strangulate the mother >> tree on which it grows and ultimately occupy the space of the mother >> tree. The third kind is the one in this picture, the leaves are the >> same as in the picture and the roots almost smother the mother tree on >> which it first of all climbs. >> Regards >> Yazdy Palia. >> >> On Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 3:14 PM, Samir Takaochi <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> wrote: >> > Sorry I attached wrong photo of leaves. I send it again >> > >> > >> > >> > > >> > >> >> >> -- With regards, J.M.Garg "We often ignore the beauty around us" Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "indiantreepix" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
