Life on the branches

A fascinating variety of organisms live on the branches of forest trees. Epiphytes, including ferns, bromeliads and orchids are some of them. These plants are not always terrestrial with roots in the ground but can be effective and decorative up there. Yes, flowering plants are included among the tree dwellers. Epiphytes are plants or plant-like organisms growing on surfaces of other plants while deriving moisture and nutrients from the air and rainwater, or from accumulating debris. 

Parasites, like mistletoe are another matter, sucking a percentage or all of their nutrients and drink from the host plants on which they reside. Mosses and lichens fend for themselves, no drain on host resources. They may form dense carpets on branches, thriving in humid environments. Fungi again, including the sometimes-spectacular forest shelf fungi, grow directly on tree bark, breaking down organic material. They may be saprophytes living on decaying, dead wood, but some infect living trees through weak spots and consume living tissue, therefore parasitic. There are also many algae that may form green coatings on branches in damp conditions.

And don’t forget all the animals! Insects like ants, aphids, beetles, butterflies and moths sometimes live in trees. So do certain spiders, some amphibians like frogs and small mammals like monkeys. And then there are so many birds that desperately miss destroyed forests. Weren’t trees meant for them?