Download plants in the tropical rainforests

PLANTS IN THE TROPICAL RAINFORESTS
More than two thirds of the world's plant species are found in the warm and humid
tropical rainforests.
There are plants such as white trillium, rainforest buttercup,
bougainvillea, opium poppies and over 20,000 different species of
orchids. Most tropical rainforest plants are exotic and very
beautiful with large, brightly coloured flowers that attract insects
and birds.
Many plants provide shelter and food for rainforest animals.
The plants take part in the gas exchanges which provide much of the world's oxygen
supply.
Types of Plants
Carnivorous
Some tropical rainforest plants are carnivorous,
or meat-eating. The plant has a cavity that is
filled with either sweet or horrible smelling nectar
that attracts insects, especially ants and flies.
Inside, the sides are steep and covered with
downward pointing hairs. Insects enter and lose their footing or cannot climb out
because of the hairs. The plant has a lid or flap that closes the opening to the cavity. The
insect that is trapped inside is then digested with the help of digestive juices released by
the plant. Examples of carnivorous plants are rafflesia, pitcher plant and venus fly trap.
The picture shows a Rafflesia Arnoldii, which grows in Indonesian rainforests and
produces the biggest individual flower in the world.
A spider caught The Pitcher Plant
on the sticky
attracts insects by
surface of a
its lovely smell. The
Venus Fly Trap insects are unable
to get out of the plant
because of the sticky,
downward pointing
hairs and drown in water that has
collected in the base of the plant.
Thousands of flowering plants grow onto trees so
they get sunshine. Their roots are not in soil but
grow into the bark of the tree and this keeps them
in place. The plants get their food from air and
water, not from the tree. Plants that do this are
called epiphytes (say epp-ee-fights), and include
orchids, philodendrons, ferns and bromeliads.
An Orchid growing on a Banyan tree
Bromeliads
Bromeliads are special plants that provide a home for several creatures such as frogs,
salamanders, snails, beetles, spiders, flies, mosquitoes, millipedes, woodlice and
earthworms. They can do this because they have thick, waxy leaves that form a bowl
shape in the centre of the plant. Rainwater is caught here and the creatures survive on
this and nutrients from animals that die and decompose. The most well-known
bromeliad plant is the pineapple.
Imitator Dart Frogs
in a South
American Bromeliad
Saprophytes
Saprophytes are those species of
plants that break down dead and
decaying vegetation and animals. The
tropical rainforest is ideal for
saprophytes as the constant heat and
moisture speeds up the decomposition
process. The decomposed matter
releases nutrients into the soil to be
absorbed by healthy trees and plants.
Fungi are examples of saprophytes.
Cup fungi in Malaysia
Other Plants
Some other plants growing in tropical rainforests are:
Ferns
Coffee
Bamboo
Fruit trees such as banana, pineapple, papaya, lemon, orange, guava, mango
Spice plants such as nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon, pepper and many, many more!
Lilies