Small Plants That Grow on the Bark or Leaves of Another

Question

Small plants that grow on the bark or leaves of another plant are called
A) epiphytes.
B) endophytes.
C) parasites.
D) lichens.
E) All of the answer choices are correct.

Accepted Answer

Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants, but they do not harm the host plant. They obtain nutrients and water from the air and rain, and often have specialized structures such as roots or scales to anchor themselves to the host plant. Endophytes are also plants that live inside other plants, but they live inside the tissues and do not grow on the surface. Parasites are plants that harm the host plant by taking nutrients and water from it. Lichens are not plants, but are a symbiotic association between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria that grow on surfaces such as rocks or trees.