Hemiepiphyte

A hemiepiphytic strangler fig in Kerala, India.

Black Olive Berry on a Soft Tree Fern at Devil's Creek, Tantawangalo. South East Forest National Park, Australia

A hemiepiphyte is a plant which begins its life as an epiphyte but which later grows roots down into the ground. The seeds of hemiepiphytes germinate in the canopy and initially live epiphytically. They send roots downward, and these roots eventually make contact with the ground.

Strangler figs are hemiepiphytic – they begin life as epiphytes but after making contact with the ground they encircle their host tree and "strangle" it. This usually results in the death of the host tree, either through girdling or through competition for light.

Pinkwood growing as a hemiepiphyte on a Soft Tree Fern at Monga National Park, Australia