phytotelma
Sign in to savethumb|The giant pitchers of Nepenthes rajah act as phytotelmata thumb|Bromeliad tank formed by Neoregelia concentrica var. plutonis thumb|A water-filled tree hollow thumb|Lyriothemis tricolor is a species of [[dragonfly that breeds in phytotelmata|alt=]] Phytotelma (plural phytotelmata) is a small water-filled cavity in a terrestrial plant. The water accumulated within these plants may serve as the habitat for associated fauna and flora.
Article
5 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Ecology
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|The giant pitchers of Nepenthes rajah act as phytotelmata thumb|Bromeliad tank formed by Neoregelia concentrica var. plutonis thumb|A water-filled tree hollow thumb|Lyriothemis tricolor is a species of [[dragonfly that breeds in phytotelmata|alt=]] Phytotelma (plural phytotelmata) is a small water-filled cavity in a terrestrial plant. The water accumulated within these plants may serve as the habitat for associated fauna and flora.
A rich literature in German summarised by Thienemann (1954) developed many aspects of phytotelm biology. Reviews of the subject by Kitching (1971) and Maguire (1971) introduced the concept of phytotelmata to English-speaking readers. A multi-authored book edited by Frank and Lounibos (1983) dealt in 11 chapters with classification of phytotelmata, and with phytotelmata provided by bamboo internodes, banana leaf axils, bromeliad leaf axils, Nepenthes pitchers, Sarracenia pitchers, tree holes, and Heliconia flower bracts and leaf rolls.