aerial roots
Orchid's airborne grip
Aerial roots are roots that grow above ground, extending from stems or branches into the air rather than soil.
Some absorb moisture and nutrients directly from the atmosphere; others eventually reach the ground to anchor the plant or gather water.
Orchids, mangroves, and banyan trees produce aerial roots.
The philodendron's aerial roots clung to the moss pole.
Plants growing on others
- orchidsTropical flowering plants
- bromeliadsTropical plants, often epiphytic
- banyanSelf-supporting fig tree
- strangler figTree-choking epiphyte
mangrove · ficus · philodendron · monstera · pothos · hoya · rhizome · propagation
Secure harbor spot
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- climbingAscending by physical effort
- attachmentConnection or fondness
grip · adhesion · support · substrate · buttress · structural · clinging · anchoring
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
- mangroveTidal shrub with exposed roots
- jungleDense tropical forest
- canopyOverhead protective covering
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
monsoon · Amazon · equator · biodiversity · ecosystem · understory · epiphytic · vines
Transfer of respiratory molecules
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- transpirationBotanical water vapor release
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
- porousAllowing passage of fluids
ventilation · diffusion · waterlogged · swamp · adaptation · breathing · atmospheric
Suspended and swaying freely
- hangingExecution by noose
- descendingMoving downward
- trailingFollowing behind something
- extendingIncreasing in reach
elongating · reaching · drooping · pendant · cascading · tendrils · adventitious · emerging
epiphytes
Plants growing on others
- orchidsTropical flowering plants
- bromeliadsTropical plants, often epiphytic
- banyanSelf-supporting fig tree
strangler fig · mangrove · ficus · philodendron · monstera · pothos · hoya · rhizome · propagation · vegetative
anchorage
Secure harbor spot
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- climbingAscending by physical effort
attachment · grip · adhesion · support · substrate · buttress · structural · clinging · anchoring · colonization
rainforest
Wet tropical woodland ecosystem
humidity · monsoon · Amazon · equator · biodiversity · ecosystem · understory · epiphytic · vines · lianas
gas exchange
Transfer of respiratory molecules
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- transpirationBotanical water vapor release
- respirationGas exchange in organisms
porous · ventilation · diffusion · waterlogged · swamp · adaptation · breathing · atmospheric
dangling
Suspended and swaying freely
- hangingExecution by noose
- descendingMoving downward
- trailingFollowing behind something
extending · elongating · reaching · drooping · pendant · cascading · tendrils · adventitious · emerging · sprouting
- plant growthbloom, bud, buds, flower, fruit
- tropical forestscanopy layer, understory, epiphytes, lianas, forest floor
- rootstaproot, root system, root tip, fibrous root, primary root
- cloud forestsepiphytes, mosses, bromeliads, orchids, tree ferns
- epiphytesair plants, air plant, Spanish moss, staghorn fern, bird's nest fern
- jungle adaptationsbroad leaves, epiphytes, lianas, prehensile tails, tree dwelling