The inhabitants at great heights: Epiphytic plants

Know the epiphytic plants that inhabit the Edward James Sculpture Garden

By Jardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Stairway to heaven and the rainforest (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Jungle shelter

The sculptures found at the Edward James Sculpture Garden are sheltered under the most northern evergreen rainforest of México, formed by stunning trees of 30 meters or more in height.

Exquisite plant compositions (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Exquisite plant compositions

Numerous species of plants live along the trunks of these trees, reaching all the way to the top. These plants are called epiphytes (from the Greek epi=on and phyton=plant).

Epiphyte bromeliads, Edward James, 1947/1984, From the collection of: Jardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Blooming Bull orchid, Edward James, 1947/1984, From the collection of: Jardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

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At the Garden, ferns, bromeliads, orchids, mosses and even some species of cacti that grow mainly on trees with rough bark to anchor themselves to their cavities, can be found.

An important visitor (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Ecological relevance

Epiphytic plants offer a great variety of resources for the survival of some animals, generating a very particular ecosystem.

Living on a bromeliad (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Plant tanks

For example, some epiphytic bromeliads can form small tanks to store water, which are used for the benefit of countless organisms such as insects, amphibians, and small reptiles to complete some phase of their life cycle.

Earth star fungus (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Soil ingredients

Epiphytes play a significant role in rainforests, because when they fall from trees, they decompose on the rainforest floor due to the action of bacteria and fungus, contributing to the accumulation of organic matter.

Purple little flowers (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Bromeliaceae family

The bromeliad species most frequently found in the Sculpture Garden are the Tank Bromeliad (Aechmea mexicana), the Spanish Beard of Cuba (Tillandsia fasiculata), Magueyitos (Tillandsia juncea and Tillandsia utriculata), Gallitos (Tillandsia shiedeana) and Old Man's Beard (Tillandsia usneodes).

Feather ferns (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Ferns

The most common species of epiphytic ferns are Palm Fern (Phlebodium aureum), Key Fern (Llavea cordifolia), Feather Fern (Pecluma plumula) and Deer's Tongue Fern (Niphidium crassifolium).

Snake head orchid (1947/1984) by Edward JamesJardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Orchids

Among the most common epiphytic orchid species found inside the Garden, it is possible to find Star Orchids (Nidema boothii), Snakeheads (Stanhopea tigrina), Crab Orchids (Specklinia tribuloides), Octopus Orchid (Prosthechea cochleata) and Farolitos (Encyclia parviflora).

Sparkles of colour, Edward James, 1947/1984, From the collection of: Jardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

Moss rug, Edward James, 1947/1984, From the collection of: Jardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

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All these plants benefit from the trees by using them as a support, but also, constitute a fundamental part of the ecosystem and landscape of the Sculpture Garden.

Credits: Story

Text from: Pedro and Elena Hernández Foundation CSO, 2019, unpublished work.

Credits: All media

The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

Jardín Escultórico Edward James, Las Pozas

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