Hemiepiphytes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of plant that grows partially on other plants, deriving some support while still engaging in photosynthesis and nutrient absorption from the ground
2. Referring to species that live on host plants for structural support but are not fully parasitic, relying on both their host and the soil for sustenance
3. Describing plants that take advantage of other vegetation for physical support while maintaining their own root systems and capabilities for growth and reproduction

Etymology: "Hemiepiphytes" is the plural of "hemiepiphyte," a plant that spends part of its life growing on another plant, usually a tree, without taking root in the soil at first. The word is built from two parts: "hemi-," from Greek "hēmi-" meaning "half," and "epiphyte," itself formed from Greek "epi-" meaning "upon" and "phyton" meaning "plant." An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant for support, such as an orchid perched on a branch, drawing moisture and nutrients from rain and debris rather than from the host. The prefix does the crucial work here. A true epiphyte lives its whole life aloft, while a hemiepiphyte begins as an epiphyte and later sends roots down to the ground, or simply stays partly dependent on its host. Strangler figs are the classic example: they germinate in the crown of a tree, then grow roots downward that eventually wrap and overtake the host.