This Rowan has a good view.

[BarbaraEmma]

We've watched this little Rowan tree struggle to survive for a few years now.At the moment it's looking quite healthy but some years it just about hangs on in there.
Wonderful things plants ,if you want one to grow in your garden, you have to nurture it carefully and then you find some little free spirit doing its' own thing at the top of a pylon.
I expect lots of you have noticed trees growing in odd places.
Barbara

[ron1863]

That's one of the strangest places I have seen a tree growing, especially a Rowan tree.

[metalfish]

wow, that's fantastic. I bet that could make a good theme, where's the most bizarre or hardcore place you've seen plants growing?
That's so mental, how would it get enough water?! I suppose it's a mountain plant so it likes a hard life but that takes the biscuit!

[Hedge Witch]

Amazing shot, Barbara. I hope it survives, or is allowed to

[treecreeper]

Wow! A British epiphyte!

[Hedge Witch]

What is epiphyte?

Can't be bothered to look it up, but I'm almost sure it is not one

[treecreeper]

It's not an epiphyte, that was a joke. An epiphyte is a plant growing on another without being parasitic on it, like tropical arboreal orchids. It has to be by design to count as an epiphyte, so dandelions poking out of a tree hollow don't count.

[Hedge Witch]

I guess the epiphytic roots are adapted in some way to make a plant "an epiphyte" (sorry, I don't mean to hijack).

[treecreeper]

I'm out of my depth already Hedgie

...the only reason I know the word is that decades ago I used to listen to a nature program on Radio 4. People sent in questions which were answered by a panel of experts. Someone wrote in to say he'd found a weed growing on a tree branch and asked if it counted as an epiphyte. Answer was no.

[Jim Ford]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

I guess the epiphytic roots are adapted in some way to make a plant "an epiphyte" (sorry, I don't mean to hijack).

Have a look at the phalaenopsis orchids in you local supermarket. You'll see the roots are thick without root hairs - often hanging out of the pot. The root outer layer is spongey/corky with the actual root hairs within. The roots absorb nutrients and moisture through this outer layer, which gives protection to the hairs.

Jim