What term describes non-parasitic plants (such as tropical orchids, bromeliads, and mosses) that grow physically anchored upon host tree trunks and branches to access sunlight in dense forest canopies?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Epiphytes
- Step 1: On the rainforest floor, less than 2% of incident sunlight penetrates through the multi-layered canopy.
- Step 2: Epiphytes (or 'air plants') use host tree structures solely for physical elevation toward sunlight; they absorb moisture and dissolved mineral dust directly from air and rain using specialized aerial roots or cup-like leaf tanks without harming the host.
Answer
Epiphytes
Why not the others: 'Parasites' Parasitic plants (like dodder and mistletoe) penetrate host xylem or phloem tissues via haustoria to steal water and nutrients; 'Halophytes' Halophytes are plants adapted to survive in saline soils or marine marshes; 'Bryophytes' Bryophytes are non-vascular land plants (mosses, liverworts), which can be epiphytic but the term does not define the structural growth habit.
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