Foliicolous refers to the growth habit of certain lichens, algae, fungi, liverworts, and other bryophytes that prefer to grow on the leaves of vascular plants. [1] [2] [3] Foliicolous simply means 'growing upon leaves' [4] whilst epiphyllous derives from the Greek epi- [5] meaning on or over and phyllous means leaf [6] so 'over leaf' and hypophyllous means 'under leaf'. [7] The microhabitat on the leaf surface is called a phyllosphere. [2] [3]