Keywords
minerals
epiphytes
plant roots
leaves
mycorrhizal fungi
mycorrhizae
montane forests
rain forests
soil organic matter
How to Cite
Abstract
The "bird's nest" epiphyte Anthurium hookeri, endemic in the montane rain forest of Guadeloupe, French West Indies, maintains a mean of 149 g dry weight of epiphyte soil (detritus) derived from fine litterfall-leaves, twigs and flower parts. Detritus composition averaged 86.9% OM, 2.54% total nitrogen and 0.125% dry weight phosphorus. The mean N contribution from biological nitrogen fixation was 136 mg N· kg whole-plant dry weight yr⁻¹. The N and P concentrations determined for A. hookeri detritus exceeded concentrations determined for other species of montane rain and cloud forest epiphytes. The sum of the morphological adaptations of A. hookeri resulted in the accumulation of sufficient N, P and other minerals to sustain this epiphyte and provide for reproduction in an oligotrophic epiphytic biotope.
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