Phytotelma 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 developed many aspects of phytotelm biology. Reviews of the subject by Kitching and Maguire introduced the concept of phytotelmata to English-speaking readers. A multi-authored book edited by Frank and Lounibos dealt in 11 chapters with classification of phytotelmata, and with phytotelmata provided by bamboo internodes, banana leaf axils, bromeliadleaf axils, Nepenthespitchers, Sarracenia pitchers, tree holes, and Heliconia flower bracts. A classification of phytotelmata by Kitching recognizes five principal types: bromeliad tanks, certain carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants, water-filled tree hollows, bamboo internodes, and axil water ; it concentrated on food webs. A review by Greeney identified seven forms: tree holes, leaf axils, flowers, modified leaves, fallen vegetative parts, fallen fruit husks, and stem rots.
Etymology
The word "phytotelma" derives from the ancient Greek roots phyto-, meaning 'plant', and , meaning 'pond'. Thus, the correct singular is phytotelma. The term was coined by L. Varga in 1928. The correct pronunciation is "phytotēlma" and "phytotēlmata" because of the Greek origin.
Ecology
Often the faunae associated with phytotelmata are unique: Different groups of microcrustaceans occur in phytotelmata, including ostracods, harpacticoid copepods and cyclopoid copepods. In tropical and subtropical rainforest habitats, many species of frogs specialize on phytotelma as a readily available breeding ground, such as some microhylids, poison dart frogs and some tree frogs. Many insects use them for breeding and foraging, for instance odonates, water bugs, beetles and 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.
