While hiking in a forest, you notice an unusual plant growing on the branches of a tree. What will help you to determine if this plant is epiphytic or parasitic?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In order to determine if the plant is epiphytic or parasitic, it is important to examine the roots. Epiphytic plants grow on other plants but do not obtain nutrients from them, while parasitic plants obtain nutrients from the host tree by penetrating their roots into the tree's xylem. Therefore, if the roots of the plant are seen to penetrate under the bark into the tree xylem, it is a parasitic plant. On the other hand, if the roots of a plant are seen to not penetrate under the bark into the tree xylem, it is an epiphytic plant.

While Hiking in a Forest, You Notice an Unusual Plant