The Amazon forest plants live in warm tropical conditions that set off the evolution of a huge variation of species. To date, 438,000 species of plants have been identified in the Amazon tropical forest - a number that's expected to rise significantly as scientist discover new species every day.
Competition at ground level for light and minerals has lead to the evolution of plants which live on high up in the trees. Epiphytes grow on the branches, trunks, and even the leaves of trees. The name 'Ephiphyte' originates from the Greek word 'epi' meaning 'upon' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'. Several types of Ephiphytes may grow on a single tree, including Orchids, Cacti, Bromeliads, Aroids, lichens, mosses and ferns.
with in excess of 2,000 species of Bromeliads, they're very prominently present in the tropical rainforest. Actually, one can find them on rocks, on the ground, on branches and frequently on top of other Ephiphytes. The leaves of Bromeliads wrap around the stems thus creating little cavities where rainwater builds up. In some instances a single plant can hold several liters water. In absence o fishes, these tiny pools provide safe environments for many aquatic species including amphibians: frogs and their tadpoles, salamanders along with their larvae. Other animals include snails, beetles, mosquito larvae, etc. As parts of those animals die, their bodies decay and serve as fertilizers to the host plants. As Bromeliads come in a number of colors like purple, blue, orange and red, they're becoming increasingly fashionable as ornamentals. Naturally you know our favorite Bromeliad, the Pine Apple.
Vines too constitute a life form which has responded to the scarce light conditions of the forest floor. In stead of growing at a rather slow rate, vines grow along tree trunks, letting them grow faster to reach the greater light conditions in the canopies. They do this with sucker roots, tendrils or winding themselves along their host tree. Nearly all live in tropical rainforest. Lianas are thick woody vines of the tropics and a number of them may grow to a length of hundreds of meters as they spread across many trees.
A special group of vines is known as Strangler Figs. They completely grow around their host tree, wrapping it with their own new tree trunk, and eventually they strangle it by depriving its crown of sunshine and the trunk of expansion space. After it dies, the dead trunks rots away leaving a hollow space which can be taken by wildlife for shelter.
Orchids comprise one of the most abundant and varied of flowering plant families. Only for the humid tropics there already are more than 20,000 species , most of which grow as Ephiphytes on trees. With modern cultivation techniques, Orchids are becoming more and more sold as ornamental flowers.
The Heliconia flowers are known under different of names such as wild plantain, lobster-claw and false bird-of-paradise flowers. They can be found in many sizes and some are shaped so, that only a few hummingbirds and insects can reach them for nectar. They are found in a rainbow of colors, patterns and sizes, which makes them increasingly popular decorative flowers worldwide.
Ecuador is has the richest wet tropical forest worldwide, and the Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve has one of the most amazing Epiphyte communities. In fact, if you would like to see all these life forms from nearby, Cuyabeno is the best Amazon park to watch birds, mammals and plants.
Competition at ground level for light and minerals has lead to the evolution of plants which live on high up in the trees. Epiphytes grow on the branches, trunks, and even the leaves of trees. The name 'Ephiphyte' originates from the Greek word 'epi' meaning 'upon' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'. Several types of Ephiphytes may grow on a single tree, including Orchids, Cacti, Bromeliads, Aroids, lichens, mosses and ferns.
with in excess of 2,000 species of Bromeliads, they're very prominently present in the tropical rainforest. Actually, one can find them on rocks, on the ground, on branches and frequently on top of other Ephiphytes. The leaves of Bromeliads wrap around the stems thus creating little cavities where rainwater builds up. In some instances a single plant can hold several liters water. In absence o fishes, these tiny pools provide safe environments for many aquatic species including amphibians: frogs and their tadpoles, salamanders along with their larvae. Other animals include snails, beetles, mosquito larvae, etc. As parts of those animals die, their bodies decay and serve as fertilizers to the host plants. As Bromeliads come in a number of colors like purple, blue, orange and red, they're becoming increasingly fashionable as ornamentals. Naturally you know our favorite Bromeliad, the Pine Apple.
Vines too constitute a life form which has responded to the scarce light conditions of the forest floor. In stead of growing at a rather slow rate, vines grow along tree trunks, letting them grow faster to reach the greater light conditions in the canopies. They do this with sucker roots, tendrils or winding themselves along their host tree. Nearly all live in tropical rainforest. Lianas are thick woody vines of the tropics and a number of them may grow to a length of hundreds of meters as they spread across many trees.
A special group of vines is known as Strangler Figs. They completely grow around their host tree, wrapping it with their own new tree trunk, and eventually they strangle it by depriving its crown of sunshine and the trunk of expansion space. After it dies, the dead trunks rots away leaving a hollow space which can be taken by wildlife for shelter.
Orchids comprise one of the most abundant and varied of flowering plant families. Only for the humid tropics there already are more than 20,000 species , most of which grow as Ephiphytes on trees. With modern cultivation techniques, Orchids are becoming more and more sold as ornamental flowers.
The Heliconia flowers are known under different of names such as wild plantain, lobster-claw and false bird-of-paradise flowers. They can be found in many sizes and some are shaped so, that only a few hummingbirds and insects can reach them for nectar. They are found in a rainbow of colors, patterns and sizes, which makes them increasingly popular decorative flowers worldwide.
Ecuador is has the richest wet tropical forest worldwide, and the Cuyabeno Fauna Reserve has one of the most amazing Epiphyte communities. In fact, if you would like to see all these life forms from nearby, Cuyabeno is the best Amazon park to watch birds, mammals and plants.
About the Author:
Find out where you can admire the ornamental flowers in your home in the wild. Dr Vreugdenhil, a tropical biologist with 40 years of experience on the Amazon Jungle tells you all about Amazon Forest Plants and where to Explore the Amazon to admire gorgeous flowers of the tropical forest.