b. Support
Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants, such as trees, but do not obtain nutrients from the soil. Instead, they absorb moisture and nutrients from the air and from rainwater that collects on their leaves. In a rainforest, where the ground is often covered by dense vegetation and the soil is poor, epiphytes have adapted to grow on trees as a means of support and to reach sunlight. The trees provide a substrate for the epiphytes to attach to and grow on, as well as a way to access light and nutrients. In turn, the epiphytes may provide habitat and food for other organisms, such as insects, birds, and small mammals.