Studies on the Distribution of Vascular Epiphytes in the Wellington District

Abstract

(i) Concept of an Epiphyte. Although the epiphytic mode of life is highly specialised it has been successfully adopted by representatives of every division of the Plant Kingdom. Likewise, practically every form of plant life can fulfil the role of host or supporting plant. On land the forest tree is undoubtedly the life-form which offers the greatest opportunities for epiphytism. The trunk, branches, forks and even the leaves of the forest tree are all potential stations for unicellular algae, liverworts, mosses, lichens, fungi, pteridophytes and spermatophytes. Therefore, it is not surprising that in many forest stands there is a greater abundance and variety of epiphytes over a given area than terrestrial herbaceous plants. As with other specialised groups of organisms epiphytes may be obligate or facultative. However, plants exclusively found growing as epiphytes form a relatively minor group; in suitable well lit open habitats, such as coastal areas, rocks and open woodland the majority are capable of successfully adopting the terrestrial station.