Most lianas are rooted in ground and contribute a large part of total amount of leaves in the forest. Sometimes the weight of too many vines causes the tree to collapse bringing down the vines with it and forming a gap in the forest canopy Epiphytes are intolerant of deep shade. They do not normally grow on the ground. Examples of epiphytes are orchids and bromeliads. There are some cactus that grow as epiphytes.
Epiphytes live mainly on tree branches and even form their own soil on the branches.
Hemiepiphytes start off as a dependent plant and may eventually kill and supplant their host. They hardly exist outside of tropical forests. Strangler figs are good examples of hemiepiphytes.