In dense forests, obtaining sunlight for plants can be tricky. Growing on the ground is not always effective for plants because there is not much sunlight hitting the ground. Orchids are epiphytes, or plants that grow on other plants. They grow on branches of trees high up in the canopy. They get more sunlight and have more access to pollinators up in the high branches. Orchids lay their roots on the bark of a tree and obtain nutrients and water from their surrounding environment.

In a short answer, identify and describe the type of symbiotic relationship between orchids and the forest trees, and explain the effect of this interaction on each species involved.