A rainforest is a forest that receives heavy rainfall.The most notable rainforests are in the tropics or subtropics, mostly in the Intertropical Convergence Zone.The biggest rainforest is the Amazon rainforest, which is mostly in Brazil.Forests like this have extraordinary biodiversity. In … Pitcher plants have evolved to prey on insects, and are found in areas in which the soil is low in nutrients. It is found in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Rainforests are forests characterized by high and continuous rainfall, with annual rainfall in the case of tropical rainforests between 2.5 and 4.5 metres and definitions varying by region for temperate rainforests. As a weedy plant, it grows rapidly and is common on riverbanks and roadsides. Coffee Plant (Coffea arabica) Coffee plants, which grow up to 30 feet high, are also widespread in the Amazon Rainforest. The Kapok tree is an extremely majestic plant, it can grow to a height in upwards of one hundred and fifty feet tall, the trunk of the tree can reach nine feet in diameter. As it tries to get to the sweet-smelling, female-attracting liquid, it will occasionally fall into the flower’s ‘bucket’; a special chamber inside the body of the flower. Many cultures use the plant to treat a wide range of conditions. Photo: Forest & Kim Starr, resized by ActiveWild [CC BY 3.0 us]The açai is thought to be the most common tree in the Amazon Rainforest. It is also used to make paper and musical instruments. The piripiri plant (Cyperus articulatus) is a tropical reed that grows across the tropical region worldwide and is known by many different names. Types of Tropical Rainforest Plants in Brazil. Rainforests exhibit a highly vertical stratification in plant and animal development. Known as the Hanging Lobster Claw, this colorful Amazonian vegetation blossoms and spreads a shade while providing diverse shapes and sizes. The Amazon Rainforest alone provides a habitat for over 40,000 plant species! They produce a smell like rotting flesh, which is how they got the name ‘Corpse Flower’. These woody plants are what hold up large trees in a comprehensive and elaborate system. The rubber sap produced by the trees is used for the manufacturing of latex that is still used in the present era for the production of goods made with rubber and specials tires of cars. Castor bean is originally from East Africa and is now a common ornamental plant that’s widespread throughout the tropics. Heliconia flower thrives best in damp and warm conditions. Bougainvilleas are well-known for their beautiful flower-like leaves, which grow around the actual flower. Throughout all the different layers of a tropical rain forest, youll find a wide variety of animals. Active Wild Pinterest Active Wild Facebook. Its fruit is food for many rainforest animals. In this list of tropical rainforest plants, some of our chosen species are very big, some are very beautiful … and some are even dangerous (if you’re an insect)! The monsoon trough, alternatively known as the intertropical convergence zone, plays a significant role in creating the climatic conditions necessary for the Earth's tropical rainforests: which are distinct from monsoonal areas of seasonal tropical forest. The insects eventually drown in a pool of liquid at the bottom of the tube. Growing to heights of over 80m (262 ft.), tualangs are among the tallest of all rainforest trees. These plants have a waxy, thick leaf that forms a bowl-shape, which enables those collects to rain in their foliage. Rainforest foods provide essential vitamins and fiber. The hot, humid climate of the world’s tropical regions provide ideal conditions for plant life. Vanilla orchids grow like vines, climbing up other trees. Orchids are one of the most contrasting plant families founds in the rain forest. A complete species of animals pollinate the beautiful blossoms, such as hummingbirds, honey bees, bats, and even wasps. Lianas are rainforest vines. Bougainvilleas are well-known for their beautiful flower-like leaves, which grow around the actual flower. Conservatively, the rubber tree is one of the most resourceful trees in the Amazon rainforest for natives of some communities. Indian Timber Bamboo is an incredibly valuable type of bamboo. One of the main fragrant species found in the Amazon rain forest is the orchid Prosthechea fragrans. Plants of the Rainforest  Epiphytes  These plants are not parasites, they are actually called air plants, this is because they have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient source. The coastal redwood are extremely tall trees, and because of this they have shallow root systems that can extend one hundred or more feet from the base of the tree, … The plant’s height allows it to reach the maximum of light at the canopy of the forest in order to photosynthesize. Photo: Orchi (resized by ActiveWild) [CC BY-SA 3.0]Plants in the genus Coryanthes, also known as Bucket orchids, rely on bees known as orchid bees for pollination. In the early days, this plant was local to the Amazon rainforest. On this page, you’ll find a tropical rainforest plants list, with pictures and information on individual plant species. Dimitar Lambov/iStock/Getty Images . Many of the plants in this tropical rainforest plants list are epiphytes. They develop braces that can expand to a range of 30 feet. This is known as ‘rubber tapping’. From the BBC.This is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. Giant Water Lilies (Victoria amazonica), 11. Numerous rainforest vines develop, starting from top to bottom of the roots through the hidden under layers of the stem. There are two types of rainforests – tropical and temperate. Some species of bamboo can grow 90 cm (3 ft.) in one day! Although no list of this type can hope to include all of the plants in the rainforest, we hope that we’ve provided you with an idea of the lives and uses of many varied plants found in tropical regions. They have stilt roots that project out of the trunk above the ground (see our Plants In The Tropical Rainforest article to find out more about stilt roots). The rain forest is home to diverse, unique species of plants, and we have put together a list of the different types of plants in the rainforest for your greenery pleasure. Tualang trees have buttress roots, making them both more stable and able to reach more nutrients. They grow in African, Asian and Australasian rainforests. Who dislikes chocolate? The tree is dependent on a certain large rodent … Trees are the most significant member of the tropical rainforests. These plants have a waxy, thick leaf that forms a bowl-shape, which enables those collects to rain in … These trees are mostly 100 feet tall. A plant that acts as a mini ecosystem for several species of insect and other small creatures. Also present are Saw palm, Cat’s-foot, Lichen Moss, Twisty grass, Teak, Cypress, Live Oak, Parasol Plant, Sargasso, Sesame, Cedar, Palmetto. Biologists say over half of all plant and animal species live in the rainforest. This is one of the plants you will be shown if … Orchids in the rainforest are often epiphytes. Plants and animals of the tropical rainforest Composition of species. The Rafflesia arnoldii has the biggest flower in the world. There are many varieties of this type of tree some exhibiting a defense mechanism regularly adopted by plants: thorns! The strangler fig is an extremely important plant in the rainforest ecosystem. Follow the link below to find out more and to sign up! Its huge leaves can be up to 3 metres (9.8 ft.) in diameter. Eating a diet rich in these foods will promote a healthy lifestyle. ActiveWild.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon stores. Its fruit is edible, and an important food in the Amazon region. Lianas - wicker baskets, furniture and ropes are produced from this climbing vine found winding around the foliage of Brazil's tropical rainforests. The Rainforests houses more than 2,500 types of vines, of 90% of the world’s total. These trees can survive in dry and breezy winds as a result of their height. Scientists now think that the roots simply improve the tree’s stability. Common Examples of Tropical Rainforest Plants Some of the tropical rainforest plants are pineapple, pepper, palm tree, orchid, fern, peanut, orange, lemon, coffee, banana and avocado. The tropical rainforest biome accounts for the largest number of plants species. More than two-thirds of the world’s plant species are found in the tropical rainforests: plants that provide shelter and food for rainforest animals as well as taking part in the gas exchanges which provide much of the world’s oxygen supply. This article is part of our Rainforest Series. Instead, they wrap themselves around other trees. There are many types of rainforest orchid, and we’ll look at some individual species below. In the tropical rainforest, the product of Passiflora edulis is the most popular species, and its organic products are utilized in juices and sweets. Carnauba wax is used in car polish, lipstick, soap, and in many other products. In the previous article we covered plants in the tropical rainforest. The name Monkey Brush is believed to have come from the flower's long and colorful stamens. Other orchids have roots that spread out over the branch of the host tree, capturing water without needing to bury into the ground. … Epiphytes are plants that grow on other plants. Their leaves channel water into a central ‘tank’. The tropical rainforests, which is possibly the most popular, originates from the Central and South American regions and is a distinct and diverse vegetative region characterized by their humidity and warmness and the temperate rainforest famous for its dense vegetation. All Rights Reserved. Some of the best-known pitcher plants are those of genus Nepenthes. Sometimes a single tree can be home to many different epiphyte species, together weighing several tonnes. Rattans are vines; long plants which are unable to support themselves. The plants start their lifecycle on the forest floor like other rainforest plants and afterwards grow towards daylight using trees as help. We can’t picture anyone who does. Rafflesia arnoldii flowers can reach 1 m (3 ft.) in diameter. A colourful entry to the tropical rainforest plants list, Bougainvilleas are native to South America. They attach themselves to the host tree by wrapping their roots around its branches. The Monkey Brush is a striking vine native to South America. These vessels are opened and the latex which runs out is collected in buckets. Passionflowers are one of the most loved flowers to experience in the rainforest. They grow in Central and South America. The nutritive, food-gathering roots are usually no more than a few centimetres deep. These plants are generally fat free, and saturated fat free. Their leaves have a waxy coating in order to remove the excess water. Heliconia flowers (also called Lobster-Claws) are flowers found within the Amazonian rainforest, and are known for their bright coloration. (It’s completely free, you can unsubscribe at any time, and we’ll never share your details.). The flower acts as a natural feeding source for hummingbirds and a resting spot for green iguanas. 11. In order to do this, some plants grow faster, some have bigger leaves, and others evolve better defences against predators. This rare plant grows on vines that cross the forest floor. Most of us think of monkeys when we think of rain forests. Orchids are diverse, beautiful, and well scented, such that while exploring Amazonian flowers, you can easily recognize the scent of certain species before you see the plant. Tadpoles grow there, and insects lay their eggs in the pond. The plant draws nutrients from bodies of their prey. Hence, they are easily seen in the tropical rainforests of the world. Epiphytes. The bucket orchid and the orchid bee have co-evolved; each is dependent on the other to reproduce. Natural rubber has many uses, including car tyres, hoses, pulley belts and clothing. The emergent wears an umbrella formed look at their tops, and they are broadly dispersed. Monkey Brush Vine (Combretum rotundifolium), How To Stop A Palm Tree From Growing Taller, How to Trim Palm Tree Trunk [7 Pro Steps]. Most of the trees are dicotyledons, with thick leathery leaves and shallow root systems. Many individuals are unaware that the most popular orchid is the vanilla orchid and is the main orchid with business use. In Costa Rica, there are abundant howler monkeys and spider monkeys. Its stem then wraps around the host tree, forming a lattice. There are rows of sharp spines on the undersides of the leaves. They don’t have roots in the ground, and have evolved various strategies for obtaining water and nutrients. Lianas is a grouping of how a plant develops into climbing woody plants, for example, a tree, hedge, or bush. They are also known as ‘lobster claws’ due to the shape of their flowers. The diversity of plants is great enough that one hectare of land accounts for 40 to 100 species. There are more than around 80,000 different species of  Rainforest plants, and these include flowers with special features and adaptations, trees with the unique root system, shrubs, bushes, and many vines that are utilized by man either for commercial or food purposes. This additionally implies that when giant trees fall, the plants cut down encircling trees and opening up the covering for seedlings and the development of the upcoming generation. The male bee is first attracted by the flower’s scent. There are many different types of plants that live in the temperate rainforest biome.A few examples are the coastal redwood (above left), fireweed (above center), and western skunk cabbage (above right). 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