Vascular Epiphytes: General Biology and Related Biota

by David H. Benzing

Overview

This synthesis of the growing body of information from research on epiphytes and their relations with other tropical biota provides a comprehensive overview of basic functions, life history, evolution, and the place of epiphytes in complex tropical communities. Epiphytes comprise more than one-third of the tropical vascular flora in some tropical forests. Growing within tropical forest canopies, epiphytes are subject to severe environmental constraints, and their diverse adaptations make them a rich resource for studies of water balance, nutrition, reproduction and evolution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521048958
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	01/07/2008
Series:	Cambridge Tropical Biology Series
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Abbreviations; Glossary; 1. Epiphytism: a preliminary overview; 2. Photosynthesis; 3. Water balance; 4. Mineral nutrition; 5. Reproduction and life history; 6. Mistletoes; 7. Ecology; 8. Epiphyte occurrence; References; Author index; Subject index; Taxonomic index.