Most rainforests are found along or near the Equator, where it tends to be hot. Like tropical rainforests, temperate rainforests get lots of, well, rain. Many kinds of plants grow in rainforests. Lianas are thick, woody vines that grow up the trees. When these vines get to the top of the trees, they spread to other trees and form a network of vines over the forest below.
Orchids, bamboo, and bromeliads are other rainforest plants. Trees and other plants release water into the atmosphere—something called transpiration —then the water falls back to Earth as rain.
Rainforest trees can release a lot of water, up to gallons each year. The water forms a thick cloud-cover over the rainforest, so it is always warm and humid. In some rainforests it rains more than an inch every day!
Rainforests help to stabilize the climate of the world not only by making rain but also by absorbing carbon dioxide. Vampire bats and anacondas live in the rainforests of South America. Lots of smaller animals live in rainforests too, including dragonflies, tree frogs , and at least hundreds of species of ants.
Growing in the understory of Neotropical forests, xate is commonly used in floral arrangements due to their lush appearance and their hardiness—they can last up to 45 days after being cut!
Its hard wood, which has the same fire rating as concrete and steel, is known for its resistance to attacks by fungi and insects. Learn More ». Share Facebook. Support Our Work Create a world where people and the planet prosper together. You Might Also Like The camu camu fruit itself is very high in Vitamin C and has one of the highest concentrations of any fruit. The piripiri plant Cyperus articulatus is a tropical reed that grows across the tropical region worldwide and is known by many different names.
You can find the plant in or near waterways and lakes in the Amazon Rainforest. The plant has many traditional and medicinal uses. Many cultures use the plant to treat a wide range of conditions. This is one of the plants you will be shown if you choose a tour with a medicinal garden or would like a jungle survival course. The plant is also used in handicrafts and as a flavoring. The walking palm or cashapona Socratea exorrhiza is an interesting plant to find in the rainforest.
They are very common in the rainforest and grow to over 25 meters 80 ft with a very distinctive root system. The stilt-like roots grow out from the stem between 1 to 2 meters 7 ft off the ground. The reason for the unusual roots is still unknown, however, the most likely reason is that it has something to do with quick growth and stability.
The cumaceba tree Swartzia polyphylla is used to make arrowheads by some Amazon communities. The trees grow to around 15 meters 49 ft tall and live throughout the Amazon Rainforest. Some remain in the understory while others grow into the canopy.
The bark is also used in traditional medicine. The mountain soursop tree Annona montana is best known for its fruit, which is used mainly in traditional medicine. The plant grows as a shrub or tree in tropical rainforest of Central and South America. At its maximum height, the plant grows to around 15 meters 50 ft.
In addition to growing in lowland rainforests, true to its name the plant can also be found at higher altitude to around 2, meters 6, ft above sea level. Although less popular than its close relative the guanabana, the fruits are also eaten in desserts. It is even used as an alternative to chocolate in Brazil. A fascinating plant found in tropical forests from Central America to South America, the trees of Cassia grandis grow to over 30 meters 98 ft tall.
The tree is in the Fabaceae pea family of plants and it blooms with beautiful clusters of light pink flowers. What really makes the tree stand out are its fruits.
The bean-like fruiting pods of Cassia grandis are 50 cm 20 in long, which are sometimes used to make a sweet syrup. The fascinating thing about them is what Daniel Janzen noted about the plants when trying to identify the animals that disperse the 2 cm 0.
Most fruits evolve with specific animals to distribute their seeds and are suited to a particular type of dispersal agent. The animal that used to eat the fruit of Cassia grandis is now extinct and the fruit is known as an anachronism. A possible animal that once ate these fruits and distributed the seeds is a giant ground sloth, which went extinct over 10, years ago.
You will emerge from highly diverse forest to areas home to only one species of tree called Duroia hirsuta. The trees have a mutualistic relationship with a type of lemon ant, which live within the trees. They help defend the trees and also weed the area of other plant species by biting the stems and spraying the competing plants with formic acid.
The trees also release chemicals from their roots that help limit growth of other species, which creates these fascinating areas of rainforest. These puzzled people who found them leading to their mysterious name. About the Author : Ash Card is a frequent visitor to the Amazon and has a passion for helping visitors get the best experiences from tropical destinations. Ash has interests including tropical destinations, rainforests and wildlife. Feel free to contact Ash for tour help in the Amazon.
When not helping tourists with tours and info, Ash can be found salsa-ing the night away or posing near waterfalls. Share This Article Want inspiration for future adventures? Here, we will mention 29 of the most interesting plants to find in Amazonia. Roy Luck on Flickr. Sunoochi on Flickr.
Dinesh Valke on Flickr. Katja Schulz on Flickr. Lauren Gutierrez on Flickr. SaraYeomans on Flickr. Forest and Kim Starr on Flickr. Palla, conta or shapaja Attalea butyracea The palms of palla trees have been used for making thatched roofs from the earliest days of people living in the rainforest.
Indigenous people use the traditional method in many regions of the rainforest, and the sturdy leaves can last from five to 10 years. There are about 1. The rubber trade also brought a lot of unhappiness to indigenous people, who were forced to work by rubber barons. The tree grows up to 40m tall, and there are more than 1.
Walking palm or cashapona socratea exorrhiza The 'walking palm' has an unusual appearance: its metre tall trunk is supported by long, stilt-like roots, measuring up to 1.
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