air plant

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

air plant
    n 1: plant that derives moisture and nutrients from the air and
         rain; usually grows on another plant but not parasitic on
         it [syn: {air plant}, {epiphyte}, {aerophyte}, {epiphytic
         plant}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Air plant \Air" plant`\ (Bot.)
   A plant deriving its sustenance from the air alone; an
   a["e]rophyte.
   [1913 Webster]

   Note: 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, such as the {Spanish moss} {Tillandsia
         usneoides}), are {epiphytes}.
         [1913 Webster]