Question

Difference between parasitic and epiphytic plants with examples

Answer 1

nteractions between organisms are important for the continuance of an ecosystem and enrichment of ecosystem biodiversity. Various types of interactions can be seen in an ecosystem. Symbiotic interactions and parasitic interactions are significant among them. Some interactions are beneficial for both members involved in the interaction while some interactions are driven at the expense of one member. Epiphytes and parasites are two groups which show two such interactions. Epiphytes are defined as plants that grow on other plants; they depend on other plants for physical support, without obtaining nutrients or without causing any harm. Parasites are defined as organisms that live on or in other organisms; they obtain nutrients and other requirements while causing loss or harm to the host organism. The key difference between epiphytes and parasites is that epiphytes only depend on other plants for physical support whereas parasites obtain nutrients and other requirements from their hosts.

Answer 2

The following are the differences between the epiphytic and parasitic plants:

Explanation:

• The epiphytic plants obtain physical support from the host plant without causing harm to the host plant whereas the parasitic plant obtains nourishment from the host plant and can also harm the host plant.
• Epiphytic plants are not metabolically dependent on the host plant whereas the parasitic plants are metabolically dependent on the host plant.
• Mosses, lichen, and ferns are the examples of epiphytes whereas Cuscuta and Rafflesia are the examples of the parasites.

Learn more about parasites and epiphytic plants:

Difference between parasitic and epiphytic plants with examples: https://brainly.in/question/3457865