Foliicolous refers to the growth habit of certain lichens, algae, fungi, liverworts, and other bryophytes that prefer to grow on the leaves of vascular plants.[1][2][3] Foliicolous simply means 'growing upon leaves'[4] whilst epiphyllous derives from the Greek epi-[5] meaning on or over and phyllous means leaf[6] so 'over leaf' and hypophyllous means 'under leaf'.[7] The microhabitat on the leaf surface is called a phyllosphere.[2][3]

Foliicolous lichens growing on a leaf on the Amazon jungle near Tena, Ecuador

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pócs, Tamás; Tóthmérész, Béla (1997). "Foliicolous bryophyte diversity in tropical rainforests". Abstracta Botanica. 21 (1): 135–144.
  2. ^ a b "Foliicolous lichens". Australian National Herbarium. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Epiphyllous bryophytes". Australian National Herbarium. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Definition of foliicolous". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Definition of epi-". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Definition of -phyllous". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Definition of hypophyllous". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
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