Diversity and distribution of hemi‐epiphytes and facultative herbaceous epiphytes in Kibale National Park, Uganda

Abstract A survey of the hemi‐epiphytes and other herbaceous facultative epiphytes was performed in Kibale National Park. A total of 100 major host trees were sampled in detail by a canopy‐based single rope technique. A total of thirteen families, thirteen genera with 24 species were found being dominated in terms of species by the family Moraceae with nine species. The most common Ficus species were F. sasibarica and F. conracii , while the herbaceous facultative epiphytes had Rhipsalis baccifera , Peperomia manni and P. tetraphylla as the most common. Correlation analysis revealed no relationship between basal area and the Ficus species. The herbaceous facultative epiphytes increased significantly with increase in the host basal area. Ficus species and the herbaceous facultative epiphytes preferred the ‘base’ and ‘mid’ branch zones of the host trees characterized by a narrow range of vertical distribution in both the logged and un‐logged forests. Most species were found in the ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ humus type of substrates. There was a tendency for the logged forests to have more hemi‐epiphytes and the herbaceous facultative epiphytes than the un‐logged forest types.