Phytotelma

A rich literature in German summarised by Thienemann (1954)[1] developed many aspects of phytotelm biology.

[5][6] A classification of phytotelmata by Kitching (2000)[7] recognizes five principal types: bromeliad tanks, certain carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants, water-filled tree hollows, bamboo internodes, and axil water (collected at the base of leaves, petals or bracts); it concentrated on food webs.

[9] The correct pronunciation is "phytotēlma" and "phytotēlmata" because of the Greek origin (the stressed vowels are here written as ē).

[4] As these are such small systems, there may be great risk of nitrogenous waste eventually putrefying phytotelmata, killing their inhabitants.

Potentially relevant is that tadpoles of the species Kurixalus eiffingeri have been found to avoid defecation until after metamorphosis, when they have vacated phytotelmata.