Photo of the flaring base of a tree covered with green bryophytes. Photo by Scott Zona CC BY-NC 2.0.

Lest you think epiphytes are found only in the tropics, look to the bryophytes. Mosses & liverworts survive drought by drying without dying. They can shrivel up on dry days but resurrect in the next rain. #bryophyte #moss #liverwort #epiphyte #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of a group of ferns growing epiphytically on a palm trunk. The ferns have dimorphic leaves. The shield fronts are held upright and catch litterfall between the trunk and the back of the frond. The green fronds are longer and not adpressed to the trunk. Photo by Scott Zona CC BY-NC 2.0.

Another way to avoid the daily drought faced by epiphytes is to surround their roots with some organic matter. These Drynaria quercifolia trap moisture-holding leaf litter behind the dead shield fronds & do photosynthesis & reproduction with the green fronds. #epiphyte #Polypodiaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo with POV looking into the center of a rosette of leaves that impound water. The central leaves are purple, and small white flowers emerge above the water level in the center of the rosette. Photo by Scott Zona CC BY-NC 2.0.

Many epiphytic bromeliads solve the daily drought problem by impounding water in their rosette of leaves. This is their private cistern. With this much water available, they won’t dry out. Daily drought? They don’t feel it. #epiphyte #Bromeliaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

A plate of two photos of roots clinging to a smooth palm trunk. On the left, the roots are dry and silvery in color (with reddish root tips). On the right, the trunk has dried, but the roots are still dark and full of water. Photo by Scott Zona CC BY-NC 2.0.

Many epiphyte roots (especially orchids) have an outer layer, the velamen, that is dead & spongy. It holds onto water until the plant can take it in. On the left, the roots are dry; on the right, the roots are still wet even though the palm trunk is dry. #roots #epiphyte #Orchidaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

Photo of a mostly dead tree against a blue sky. Dozens of bromeliads are growing as dense rosettes clinging to the major branches of the tree. Photo by Scott Zona CC BY-NC 2.0.

This tree in Costa Rica shows how exposed some epiphytes can be (& still thrive). Yes, they get a daily rain shower, but it is followed by intense sunlight & wind that dries everything out. Moisture is either feast or famine, and plants must endure a daily drought. #epiphyte #Botany 🌾🧪🌱

Spanish moss on trees in coastal park {copyright M. Frost}

#ColorADay #BWFri x #ForestFri, fond memories of a pre-pandemic trip to #HiltonHead — because nothing says Southern Gothic so well as Spanish Moss #epiphyte #photography

Honored to be one of the plenary speakers at the 68th IAVS Symposium #IAVS2026 in Gijón, Spain (22–26 June 2026)!

Looking forward to sharing about forest canopies, vascular #epiphyte #conservation & #TropicaEcology 🌿🪻🌴

📣 Abstract submissions & registration are now open!

Hope to see you there!

An epiphytic bromeliad is shown with red carpels, and purple petals with a white stripe. Maybe Billbergia nutans species.

In bloom in my yard this week: Billbergia, an epiphytic bromeliad from South America 🌼 #epiphyte #bromeliad #nature #bloomscrolling

It's that time of year again . . .
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Schlumbergera truncata
aka Holiday Cactus

plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/schlu...
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#schlumbergera #truncata | #false #christmascactus | #holiday cactus | #epiphyte | #lithophyte | #plants | #indoor plants 🪴

🌿 We have some strange plants here at home. The tillandsias and the vanda are epiphytes and grow without soil or a pot. But they get a weekly bath in rainwater. It’s fun to watch and rainwater tastes really good.

#nala #tillandsia #vanda #epiphyte #rainwater #bath

A bright magenta orchid cactus flower in full bloom with one finished flower and two buds and in the center and right. Those three are leaning to the left.

Magenta Orchid cactus. Makes me think of a punk rock star with three back up singers swaying to the music.
#flower #MagentaMon #coloraday #onlybeautifulthings #dailyflowers #dailybotanicalbeauty #nature #epiphyte #bloomscrolling #eastcoastkin #flowerreport #cactus

#Epiphyte They absorb moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and organic debris around them… they are non-parasitic.

A vibrant red bromeliad plant with long, spiky green leaves growing directly on the mossy trunk of a large tree. The tree's bark is light brown, and the background shows more lush green trees and a sunlit grassy area.

Botanical Beauty. #bromeliad #epiphyte #plantlife #naturelovers #tree #garden #botany #redflower #greenery #tropicalplants #smartphonephotography #photography

𝕋𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤𝕚𝕒 𝕗𝕦𝕔𝕙𝕤𝕚𝕚 𝕧. 𝔾𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕤 💚🌱 #succulents #plants #plantphotography #photography #airplants #tillandsia #epiphyte #bromeliad

#Tillandsia #AirPlant #Bromeliaceae #Epiphyte #Flower #Blossom #BotanicalGarden #Karlsruhe #Nature #Plants #TropicalPlants #ExoticPlants #Flora #BotanischerGarten #Pflanzen #Natur #TropischePflanzen #ExotischePflanzen #Blüte #Luftpflanzen

a beautiful epiphyte on Bundjalung country

more epiphyte action

not an epiphyte (?). Strangler vine growing in a helix, like a twisted rope

Is there an #EpiphyteClub hashtag here? There is now.
#epiphyllum #epiphyte

Flowers of the Tongue orchid on a eucalypt trunk. For much of the year this epiphyte is hardly noticeable, the permanent leaves, which are tongue-shaped, are drab green and lie flat on the trunk. Then when it flowers the racemes sprout out horizontally in white clusters, transforming the trunk.

Good Morning!
Tongue Orchid flowering (Dockrillia linguiformis)

Not the most attractive name, its racemes are beautiful and delicate, standing out horizontally and turning host tree trunks into dancing white.
#photography #nature #orchid #flowers #epiphyte #bloomscrolling #EastCoastKin

Tillandsia seleriana is a striking air plant native from Mexico to Nicaragua. Its bulbous base stores water, while its silvery leaves absorb water. When it blooms, it reveals violet flowers on a vivid spike—a brief burst of color in the canopy. 🌿

#Tillandsia #Bromeliaceae #epiphyte #flora

A close-up photo of a ball-shaped cluster of yellowish-green moss growing on a small branch. The moss leaves are narrow and pointed, and spread out in star shapes. Several spore capsules, which are football-shaped and have a cap over their top half, just barely from the moss ball.

A cluster of moss growing on a branch, probably in the family Orthotrichaceae, a family in which I do not feel confident at all identifying much further!

#moss #bryophyte #orthotrichaceae #epiphyte #plant #macro #macrophotography #inaturalist #canada

🌺 #FlowerFriday 🌵

One of my favourite plants.
It has more arms than an 🐙 but is an epiphytic cactus.

Pink and blue flowers, produces lots of fruits.

✏ Disocactus amazonicus

🌱 🌴

#cactus #epiphyte
#flowers #flowerphotography #plant #nature #FlowersOnFriday

I'm the accidental owner of a few tiny air plants and becoming quite smitten with them. Now, to learn...

#airplants #tillandsia #tilli #epiphyte #houseplants

Oh my goodness!!!

#Hoya #blooming #housplants #epiphyte #aroid #blooms #greenhousecabinet

The first #Pamianthe on bluesky? A spectacular, epiphytic #amaryllid from cloud forests of the Peruvian Andes. Extinct in the wild due to habitat loss and exceedingly rare in cultivation
#amaryllis #amaryllidaceae #epiphyte #botany #plantsky #plants #houseplant #rareplant #gardening #conservation

Hoya obovata with inner variegation

#hoya #hoyaobovata #hoyas #blooming #hoyabloom #hoyaflower #flowers #houseplants #waxplant #epiphyte #indoorgrowing #variegation #variegated

Hoya lasiantha - those flowers 🤩

#hoya #hoyalasiantha #hoyas #blooming #hoyabloom #hoyaflower #flowers #houseplants #waxplant #epiphyte #indoorgrowing

Hoya undulata, one of my favorites.

#hoya #hoyacarnosa #hoyas #blooming #hoyabloom #hoyaflower #flowers #houseplants #waxplant #epiphyte #indoorgrowing #hoyaundulata #undulate

Hoya lacunosa in bloom. Has a really strong floral scent.

#hoya #hoyacarnosa #hoyas #blooming #hoyabloom #hoyaflower #flowers #houseplants #waxplant #epiphyte #indoorgrowing #upclose

Hoya carnosa in bloom, one of my favorites, and a classic. I tried pollinating but was unsuccessful.

Hoya carnosa, one of my favorites, and it’s blooming. I tried pollinating but was unsuccessful.

#hoya #hoyacarnosa #hoyas #blooming #hoyabloom #hoyaflower #flowers #houseplants #waxplant #epiphyte #indoorgrowing

#hoya #hoyas #hoyaseedling #houseplants #seedstarting #epiphyte #epiphytes #waxplant