19. 



According to Schimper,the condition which enables 



a plant to "become an epiphyte is the adaptibility 



of the seeds to be transported to branches and 



triinks of trees and be able to germinate there. 



Only certain seeds ^for such a mode of distribution. 



He classified the seeds into three categories 



according to their special adaptations: Seeds which 



are fleshy, seeds v/hich are very light, and seeds 



which posses special mechanical devices for dissemination. 



The seeds of the first category are carried to the 



trees by animals; those of tie second category are 



transported by the wind due to their lightness; the 



seeds of the third category are brought to the trees by 



means of their special flying apparatus and the agency 



of the wind. 



Although a seed may have those special adaptations 

 for dissemination and be able to germinate on the 

 branch or on the trunk of the tree, the young plant 

 may not be able to stand the new conditions and may 

 require new adaptations which frequently result in 

 special modifications of the plant body in order to 

 meet the new conditions. The most marked modifications 

 are evident among those plants which are adapted to 

 resist drought. Some forms such as Poly podium polyT^odloides 

 are especially adapted to withsatnd the strong sunlight 

 in Trinidad by curling up, thus reducing its transpiring 

 surface, Other plants produce special structures which 



