Foliicolous refers to the growth habit of certain lichens, algae, fungi, liverworts, and other bryophytes that prefer to grow on the leaves of vascular plants.[1][2][3] Foliicolous simply means 'growing upon leaves'[4] whilst epiphyllous derives from the Greek epi-[5] meaning on or over and phyllous means leaf[6] so 'over leaf' and hypophyllous means 'under leaf'.[7] The microhabitat on the leaf surface is called a phyllosphere.[2][3]
- ^ Pócs, Tamás; Tóthmérész, Béla (1997). "Foliicolous bryophyte diversity in tropical rainforests". Abstracta Botanica. 21 (1): 135–144.
- ^ a b "Foliicolous lichens". Australian National Herbarium. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Epiphyllous bryophytes". Australian National Herbarium. Australian National Botanic Gardens. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Definition of foliicolous". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ "Definition of epi-". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ "Definition of -phyllous". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ "Definition of hypophyllous". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2 August 2022.