epiphyte
noun/ˈɛpɪfaɪt/
Frequency rank: #19,897 of 20,003 in the WORDED list (wordfreq data)
Meaning
A plant that grows on another plant for physical support but derives no nutrients from it, getting moisture and nutrients from the air and rain.
Example sentence
The scientist discovered that the orchid growing on the tree trunk was actually a type of epiphyte, requiring no soil at all.
Synonyms & related words
- aerophyte
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