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epiphyte

Syllabification: (ep·i·phyte)
Pronunciation: /ˈepəˌfīt/

Definition of epiphyte

noun

Botany
  • a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic, such as the numerous ferns, bromeliads, air plants, and orchids growing on tree trunks in tropical rain forests.

Derivatives

epiphytal

Pronunciation: /ˌepəˈfītl/

adjective

epiphytic

Pronunciation: /ˌepəˈfitik/

adjective

Origin:

mid 19th century: from epi- 'in addition' + Greek phuton 'plant'

epiphyte in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of epiphyte in the British & World English dictionary