Vascular epiphytes are plants that have broken ties with the ground

The article is the first review written in Russian which touches upon the issues of the ecological and botanical phenomenon of vascular plant epiphytism. The problem of the origin of epiphytism, its ecological boundaries and modern understanding of its ecomorphological features and classification are discussed. Various approaches to the classification of epiphytes, including the author's ones, are considered, the relationship between modern English-language terminology and traditional Russian-language literature is discussed. The most controversial issues in understanding the phenomenon of epiphytism in world literature are discussed. The phenomenology of the existence of plants that have broken ties with ground sources of mineral nutrition and water is considered. The problematics and the degree of study of the CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) in epiphytes in the context of their xeromorphosis are stated. The mechanism and the functional role of the formation of suspended soils are considered. The existing theories and controversial problems of the mineral nutrition of epiphytes, in particular, nitrogen nutrition, are reflected. Finally, data on various biological aspects of crown development are summarized: diasporology, the structure of epiphytic communities and the role of epiphytes in the ecosystem.