Epiphyll
In botany, an epiphyll (Greek epi = on, over, phyllon = leaf; plural: the epiphyll ) is a plant or lichen that grows on the leaves of another plant, as do the microorganisms that colonize leaf surfaces. Epiphylls often grow on leaves in tropical regions, as the constant water supply is guaranteed here. In most cases, these are mosses and ferns as well as lichens.
With increasing water availability, however, higher plants can also colonize this habitat (e.g. in mountain rainforests ). Epiphylls can damage their host plants because they hinder photosynthesis by shading the leaves .
Some epiphylls are semi- parasites because they penetrate the carrier leaf with their rhizoids and from there absorb water and nutrient salts.
The habitat ( habitat ) of Epiphylle also called Phyllosphere , this means in particular the habitat of epiphyllous microorganisms.