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Tropical Morphology
How Plants Adapt Rain Forest
Leaf & Stem
Structures
Adaptation For Survival
The University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
About The Author
• Dr. Paul A. Thomas
– Professor of Floriculture
– Department of Horticulture
– The University of Georgia
– Extension Specialist
– Really into Photography!
Learning Objectives
• 1. Recognize that tropical rainforests are highly populated
with insects, animals and other life forms that eat plant
material to survive.
• 2. Rainforest plants have several mechanisms to protect
themselves from predators! Be able to describe three ways
plants can protect themselves and the advantages each
strategy has.
Many rainforest animals eat leaves,
fruits and other plant parts to survive.
• http://www.rainforestanimallearningzone.co
m/leafcutter-ants.htm
Insects chew leaves and stem, or
harvest parts of the plant to serve as
food after being stored underground.
Tree Trunks Can Be Homes For Ants
Some plants or plant parts contain poisonous
chemicals that animals and insects can sense.
They leave these plants alone.
All parts of a Plumeria tree are very poisonous!!
Poisonous Sap from the Plant
Leaf Bases Can Protect Young Palms
Thick Bark Can Deter Herbivores
Spines Work Well To
Ward Off Predation
Costa Rica
Summary
There are quite a few strategies plants can take
advantage of to prevent or survive being eaten,
including rapid growth, synergistic relationships,
poisonous leaves, stems or poisonous sap, thick
leaf bases, thick bark and spines and needles.
Can you think of other physical protection
mechanisms other plants use to ward off animals
and insects that might try to eat the plant?
Assessment Opportunity
• Suggest why some plants might possess leaves
that are poisonous, but generate fruit that is
not poisonous? What would be the advantage
if that was reversed, and the fruit was
poisonous?
• Draw an example of a protective strategy you
have learned about here. What is the key
feature that imparts the protection?
For Future Exploration
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poisonou
s_plants
• http://treespecies.blogspot.com/2008/04/where-doescork-come-from.html
• http://cactus-guide.com/types-ofcactus/rainforest-cacti/