EPIPHYTES 283 



obstacle to travellers. While lianes are most abundant 

 in the tropics, they are not entirely confined to those 

 regions. They occur in Chili and New Zealand, and 

 even in Britain we have three species — the Honeysuckle, 

 Clematis, and Ivy. It was particularly to the lianes 

 that the poet Domett referred when he wrote these 

 lines : 



" Exulting Nature so delights, 

 So riots in profusion, she 

 Twice over does her work for glee ! 

 A tangled intricacy first she weaves, 

 Under and upper growth of bush and tree 

 In rampant wrestle for ascendancy. 



* * * * 



There mounting to the tree-tops, down again 

 Comes wildly wantoning in a perfect rain 

 Of trailers — self-encircling living strings 

 Unravellable ; see how all about 

 The hundred-stranded creeper cordage swings !" 



Plants which grow attached to the elevated parts of 

 other plants, firmly held in position by clasping roots, 

 or by other means, but drawing no nourishment from 

 their supports, are called Epiphytes (Grr. epi, upon; 

 phyton, a plant). They must not be confused with 

 parasites. In Britain, the epiphytes are represented 

 chiefly by lichens, mosses, liverworts, and ferns, and 

 sometimes we may see some such phenomenon as an 

 Ash growing in the hollow of an Oak; but the true epi- 

 phyte is specially adapted for the site it occupies. It 

 has arrangements for water-storage, or special means of 

 water-absorption, and it is also protected against exces- 

 sive transpiration. Besides, it has adopted particular 

 means of seed-dispersal. Its seeds must be very light, 



