A plant growing in the crevices of another plant is known by a specific term. What is it?

Question

Its not an epiphyte or a parasite. There is a specific term which I read somewhere some time ago which I couldnt recollect now.

It cant be a chasmophyte.

It seems except one, none has caught my point. I am sure it is not an epiphyte as many answered. The following example may be of some help.
Two plants/trees of different species which normally grow separately on the ground are some times found growing one above the other together.
Ex.Fig tree growing on palmyrah palm trunk.

Answer 1

epiphyte IS the correct term-and an epiphyte DOES NOT take nutrient from the plant it grows on-it only uses it as support to access the stronger light at the top of the trees. It takes nourishment from the decomposing litter that collects on branches and crevasses. Some are drought-tolerant like orchids with pseudo-bulbs or epiphytic cacti, some collect ambient humidity through their leaves like tillandsias, some collect rain water in spirally-arranged leaves that form reservoirs like bromeliads, etc.
Some plants start life as epiphytes like many fig trees-they germinate on another tree and send roots down into the soil and eventually become so large that 'strangle' the tree underneath.
But it never fed off of the tree so it's not a parasite.

other terms:
xerophyte: grows in dry places
lithophyte : grows on rocks
Parasite: take nourishment from the host plant:like mistletoe.

Answer 2

I wish I knew too. Imagine..if you will.....a coral tree, Erythrina x indica is pruned by an arborist leaving good callus material to seal the wound..a bat happens by and deposits excreta into the wound..there is a Port Jackson Fig, Ficus rubiginosa soon growing in the healing wound which closes after a bit and 2 trees of different species are there.On it's own, the Fig would reach 30 by 20 metres. There's one growing outside the Amtrack station at Santa Barbara.Some-one must know!Now!

Answer 3

The only prominent answer i could find is "Epiphyte" - the name for the plant growing on other plants without killing the host.

Kris

Answer 4

Fig growing on a palm trunk? Where I come from these are called "strangler figs" because they eventually strangle and replace their hosts ... they can end up being hollow because the host tree has died and rotted out from the center.

The site at the link calls them "hemiepiphytes"

Answer 5

I think epiphyte is the correct answer. Many of these plants belong to the group known as bryophytes ( I think - check it out frirst)

Answer 6

Renter

Answer 7

yes, it is epiphyte.Epiphyte is a plant which absorbs nutrients from the crevices of another plant and absorbs water from the atmosphere.

Answer 8

its Epiphyte....Epi-Above, Phyte-Plant...

Answer 9

Google you search . you may come across some more interesting stuff.

Hint:Look up "parasite" it may have other associated terms.

Answer 10

Nice I appreciate your eye for crevices!