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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)Frank, J.H. and Lounibos, L.P. (1983) ''Phytotelmata: Terrestrial plants as hosts for aquatic insect communities'', Plexus Press. 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 hollow, tree holes, and ''Heliconia'' flower bracts and leaf rolls.
A classification of phytotelmata by Kitching (2000) recognizes five principal types: bromeliad tanks, certain carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants, water-filled tree hollows, bamboo internodes, and axil water (collected at the base of leaves, petals or bracts); it concentrated on food webs. A review by Greeney (2001) identified seven forms: tree holes, leaf axils, flowers, modified leaves, fallen vegetative parts (e.g. leaves or bracts), fallen fruit husks, and stem rots.
Bromeliad Biota
Heliconia Biota
Video footage of a beech tree-hole Ecology Plant anatomy
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)Frank, J.H. and Lounibos, L.P. (1983) ''Phytotelmata: Terrestrial plants as hosts for aquatic insect communities'', Plexus Press. 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 hollow, tree holes, and ''Heliconia'' flower bracts and leaf rolls.
A classification of phytotelmata by Kitching (2000) recognizes five principal types: bromeliad tanks, certain carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants, water-filled tree hollows, bamboo internodes, and axil water (collected at the base of leaves, petals or bracts); it concentrated on food webs. A review by Greeney (2001) identified seven forms: tree holes, leaf axils, flowers, modified leaves, fallen vegetative parts (e.g. leaves or bracts), fallen fruit husks, and stem rots.
Etymology
The word "phytotelma" derives from the ancient Greek roots ''phyto-'', meaning 'plant', and ''wikt:τέλμα, telma'', meaning 'pond'. Thus, the correct Grammatical number, singular is ''phytotelma''. The term was coined by L. Varga in 1928. The correct pronunciation is "phytotēlma" and "phytotēlmata" because of the Greek origin (the stressed vowels are here written as ''ē'').Ecology
Often the faunae associated with phytotelmata are unique: Different groups of microcrustaceans occur in phytotelmata, including ostracods (''Elpidium spp''. ''Metacypris bromeliarum''), Harpacticoida, harpacticoid copepods (''Bryocamptus spp'', ''Moraria arboricola, Attheyella, Attheyella spp.'') and Cyclopoida, cyclopoid copepods (''Bryocyclops, Bryocyclops spp''.,''Tropocyclops'' ''jamaicensis''). In tropical and subtropical rainforest habitats, many species of frogs specialize on phytotelma as a readily available breeding ground, such as some Microhylidae, microhylids (in pitcher plants), poison dart frogs and some tree frogs (in bromeliads). Many insects use them for breeding and foraging, for instance Odonata, odonates, Nepomorpha, water bugs, Water beetle, beetles and Fly, dipterans. Some species also are of great practical significance; for example, immature stages of some mosquitoes, such as some ''Anopheles'' and ''Aedes'' species that are important disease vectors, develop in phytotelmata.See also
*Nepenthes infauna, ''Nepenthes'' infauna *BromeliaceaeReferences
{{reflistExternal links
Bromeliad Biota
Heliconia Biota
Video footage of a beech tree-hole Ecology Plant anatomy