air plant Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun plant that derives moisture and nutrients from the air and rain; usually grows on another plant but not parasitic on it
    aerophyte; epiphytic plant; epiphyte.

WordNet


Air" plant`
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A plant deriving its sustenance from the air alone; an aërophyte. ✍ The "Florida moss" (Tillandsia), many tropical orchids, and most mosses and lichens are air plants. Those which are lodged upon trees, but not parasitic on them, are epiphytes.

Webster 1913