FLORA IN TROPICAL RAINFORETS
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GENERAL PLANTS IN TROPCIAL RAINFORETS:
Trees:
Because of the constant warm temperatures and rainfall in tropical rainforests trees grow almost continuously all year. Most trees have a single and straight trunk that can reach 200 feet (61 meters).Common trees in tropical rainforests include Cinchona and cacao. The Cinchona tree is very important as its bark is used for many medicines, including quinine, which is treated to people who have malaria. Cacao tree is used for its seeds which are used to produce chocolate.
Climbing Plants:
Climbing plants have hook like tendrils that they use to climb up trunks and along limbs of other plants to reach the top of the canopy to get sunlight. An example of a climber found in all tropical rainforests are Lianas. Lianas grow leaves and thin branches and they drape themselves over other trees branches. They also produce flowers and fruit called
SPECIFIC PLANTS IN TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
Bengal bamboo
An example of an extremely fast growing plant is Bengal bamboo. This particular plant needs to be in environments where there is large amounts of rainfall and moisture. The Bengal Bamboo has adapted to grow at an extremely quick rate, it is possible for these plants to reach 80 feet in just a period of three months. Because of the large amount of rain that the Bengal bamboo receives it has managed to adapt by making vascular bundles which absorb water and then travels up the cane.
Because of the adaptation that the Bamboo has made it allows the Bamboo to reach the canopy of the rainforest very quickly so that it can absorb some sunlight to photosynthesize and flower. Bengal Bamboo only flowers once in its lifetime and then they die.
Coconut Tree
The coconut tree is a very unique tree that is found in many tropical rainforests in the world. The tree is mostly known for its large coconut fruit that hangs from the top of the tree. Coconut palms have adapted to grow extremely quickly to receive the most sun possible, they are also very efficient at spreading seeds for species survival. The tree itself grows at a medium pace and after germinating it produces a bascal trunk that allows cocunut seeds to be produced in all kinds of light and heat conditions, making the tree extremely well adapted to many climates. The coconuts themselves are extremely effective as seeds, this is because the tough shell allows them to be transferred large distances and when the seeds require no dormancy or nutrients to germinate and grow, everything is provided inside of the coconut shell.
Curare Plant
The Curare are large vine like plants that grow usually in South American rainforests. Depending on what type of curare they can be very toxic poisons as well as highly effective medicines. Sunlight is extremely limited near the rainforest floor, therefore the Curare have had to adapt to grow in the canopy of the forest to receive the most sunlight possible.
Kapok Tree
The Kapok tree can grow to a height of one hundred and fifty feet tall. The trunk of the tree can reach nine feet in diameter. The plant’s height allows it to reach the maximum of light at the canopy of the forest in order to photosynthesize. The roots of the tree are very big so that it can hold the trunk of the tree stable in the ground, the trunk of the tree is also highly hardened with external spines so that the trunk is very difficult for animals and other predators to harm.
Strangler Fig
Fig trees are known as keystone species in the rainforests and the fruit that they produce is important for some animals. Strangler fig trees can grow extremely tall and they can reach around 150 feet, where they flourish in the canopy of the rainforest. The trees grow slowly at first as their roots snake down other tree’s trunks to get to the ground. Once the roots anchor themselves in the ground, the plant grow very fast to reach the canopy. When the tree has reached the canopy its leaves grow extremely thick to steal all of the neighbouring tree’s sunlight.
Trees:
Because of the constant warm temperatures and rainfall in tropical rainforests trees grow almost continuously all year. Most trees have a single and straight trunk that can reach 200 feet (61 meters).Common trees in tropical rainforests include Cinchona and cacao. The Cinchona tree is very important as its bark is used for many medicines, including quinine, which is treated to people who have malaria. Cacao tree is used for its seeds which are used to produce chocolate.
Climbing Plants:
Climbing plants have hook like tendrils that they use to climb up trunks and along limbs of other plants to reach the top of the canopy to get sunlight. An example of a climber found in all tropical rainforests are Lianas. Lianas grow leaves and thin branches and they drape themselves over other trees branches. They also produce flowers and fruit called
SPECIFIC PLANTS IN TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
Bengal bamboo
An example of an extremely fast growing plant is Bengal bamboo. This particular plant needs to be in environments where there is large amounts of rainfall and moisture. The Bengal Bamboo has adapted to grow at an extremely quick rate, it is possible for these plants to reach 80 feet in just a period of three months. Because of the large amount of rain that the Bengal bamboo receives it has managed to adapt by making vascular bundles which absorb water and then travels up the cane.
Because of the adaptation that the Bamboo has made it allows the Bamboo to reach the canopy of the rainforest very quickly so that it can absorb some sunlight to photosynthesize and flower. Bengal Bamboo only flowers once in its lifetime and then they die.
Coconut Tree
The coconut tree is a very unique tree that is found in many tropical rainforests in the world. The tree is mostly known for its large coconut fruit that hangs from the top of the tree. Coconut palms have adapted to grow extremely quickly to receive the most sun possible, they are also very efficient at spreading seeds for species survival. The tree itself grows at a medium pace and after germinating it produces a bascal trunk that allows cocunut seeds to be produced in all kinds of light and heat conditions, making the tree extremely well adapted to many climates. The coconuts themselves are extremely effective as seeds, this is because the tough shell allows them to be transferred large distances and when the seeds require no dormancy or nutrients to germinate and grow, everything is provided inside of the coconut shell.
Curare Plant
The Curare are large vine like plants that grow usually in South American rainforests. Depending on what type of curare they can be very toxic poisons as well as highly effective medicines. Sunlight is extremely limited near the rainforest floor, therefore the Curare have had to adapt to grow in the canopy of the forest to receive the most sunlight possible.
Kapok Tree
The Kapok tree can grow to a height of one hundred and fifty feet tall. The trunk of the tree can reach nine feet in diameter. The plant’s height allows it to reach the maximum of light at the canopy of the forest in order to photosynthesize. The roots of the tree are very big so that it can hold the trunk of the tree stable in the ground, the trunk of the tree is also highly hardened with external spines so that the trunk is very difficult for animals and other predators to harm.
Strangler Fig
Fig trees are known as keystone species in the rainforests and the fruit that they produce is important for some animals. Strangler fig trees can grow extremely tall and they can reach around 150 feet, where they flourish in the canopy of the rainforest. The trees grow slowly at first as their roots snake down other tree’s trunks to get to the ground. Once the roots anchor themselves in the ground, the plant grow very fast to reach the canopy. When the tree has reached the canopy its leaves grow extremely thick to steal all of the neighbouring tree’s sunlight.