Question

Distinguish between parasitic roots and epiphytic roots. Give examples.

Answer 1

Epiphytic plants:

1. Epiphytic plants are small plants that grow on the stems or branches of large trees.
2. They use the large plants as a kind of possession surface.
3. In terms of roots, epiphytic plants are divided into two groups.Clinging root is an epiphytic plant that grows on tree bark.
4. An epiphytic root attaches freely to the air, absorbs moisture, and stores it in specialised tissue called velamen. Orchids, for example.

Parasitic plants:

1. Parasitic plants, on the other hand, rely solely on their host plant for nutrition.
2. The sucking roots, or Haustoria, of parasitic plants are small and specialised to penetrate and absorb water and nutrition from the host.

Epiphyte	Parasite
1.Plants that grow on other plant for support	1.Plants that grow on other plant for absorbing nutrients
2. They do not cause damage to the plant on which they grow.	2. They cause damage to the plant on which they grow.