What is another word for hemiepiphyte?
Pronunciation: [hˈɛmɪpˌɪfa͡ɪt] (IPA) 
Hemiepiphyte refers to a plant that starts its life as an epiphyte, or a plant that grows on another plant, but eventually grows roots into the soil and becomes a self-supporting plant. Synonyms for hemiepiphyte include semi-epiphyte, half-epiphyte, and partial epiphyte. Other related terms include lithophyte, which is a plant that grows on rocks, and aerophyte, which is a plant that grows in the air, such as air plants or epiphytes. Hemiepiphytes are found in tropical forests where they play a vital role in the ecosystem as they provide habitat and food for a range of animals, insects, and fungi.
