The Amazon rainforest plants live in a warm tropical climate that facilitated the evolution of a huge variation of species. Currently, 438,000 species of plants have been identified in the Amazon rainforest - a number that's expected to rise significantly as scientist discover new species every day.
Competition at ground level for light and minerals has resulted in the evolution of plants which grow on high up in the trees. Epiphytes grow on the branches, trunks, and also the leaves of trees. The name 'Ephiphyte' comes from the Greek word 'epi' meaning 'upon' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'. Various kinds of Ephiphytes may grow on a single tree, including Orchids, Cacti, Bromeliads, Aroids, lichens, mosses and ferns.
With more than 2,000 species of Bromeliads, they're very prominently present in the Amazon tropical jungle. In fact, one can find them on rocks, on the ground, on branches and quite often on top of other Ephiphytes. The leaves of Bromeliads wrap around the stems thus creating little areas where rainwater accumulates. Sometimes an individual plant can hold several liters water. In absence o fishes, these tiny pools provide safe environments for many aquatic species for example amphibians: frogs along with their tadpoles, salamanders as well as their larvae. Other animals include snails, beetles, mosquito larvae, etc. As parts of those animals die, their bodies rot away and function as fertilizers to the host plants. As Bromeliads come in a variety of colors like purple, blue, orange and red, they're becoming increasingly common as ornamentals. Of course everybody knows our favorite Bromeliad, the Pine Apple.
Another group of plants, the vines, has solved the problem of the darkness on the forest floor by climbing towards the canopies of the trees as they grow rapidly along the tree trunks. Ninety per cent of the world's vine species grow in tropical jungle. Lianas are a type of climbing vine found throughout tropical rainforests. They have got thick, woody stems and come in various lengths (as much as 1,000 m). They depend on trees for support as they climb upwards towards the sunlight they need to live. They do this by attaching themselves to trees with sucker roots or tendrils while climbing or winding themselves around the tree's trunk.
A special vine is the Strangler Fig which is a common name for many species of vines that completely wrap the trunk of a host tree, they will eventually end up strangling. As the host tree dies, one will find that many of these trees have a hollow central core.
Orchids comprise one of the most abundant and varied of flowering plant families. Just for the humid tropics there already are over 20,000 species , most of which grow as Ephiphytes on trees. With modern cultivation techniques, Orchids are getting increasingly sold as ornamental flowers.
The Heliconia flowers are known under various of names such as wild plantain, lobster-claw and false bird-of-paradise flowers. They grow 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 different colors, patterns and sizes, making them increasingly popular decorative flowers worldwide.
Ecuador is gets the richest wet tropical forest in the world, and the Cuyabeno National Park has some 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 enjoy birds, mammals and plants.
Competition at ground level for light and minerals has resulted in the evolution of plants which grow on high up in the trees. Epiphytes grow on the branches, trunks, and also the leaves of trees. The name 'Ephiphyte' comes from the Greek word 'epi' meaning 'upon' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'. Various kinds of Ephiphytes may grow on a single tree, including Orchids, Cacti, Bromeliads, Aroids, lichens, mosses and ferns.
With more than 2,000 species of Bromeliads, they're very prominently present in the Amazon tropical jungle. In fact, one can find them on rocks, on the ground, on branches and quite often on top of other Ephiphytes. The leaves of Bromeliads wrap around the stems thus creating little areas where rainwater accumulates. Sometimes an individual plant can hold several liters water. In absence o fishes, these tiny pools provide safe environments for many aquatic species for example amphibians: frogs along with their tadpoles, salamanders as well as their larvae. Other animals include snails, beetles, mosquito larvae, etc. As parts of those animals die, their bodies rot away and function as fertilizers to the host plants. As Bromeliads come in a variety of colors like purple, blue, orange and red, they're becoming increasingly common as ornamentals. Of course everybody knows our favorite Bromeliad, the Pine Apple.
Another group of plants, the vines, has solved the problem of the darkness on the forest floor by climbing towards the canopies of the trees as they grow rapidly along the tree trunks. Ninety per cent of the world's vine species grow in tropical jungle. Lianas are a type of climbing vine found throughout tropical rainforests. They have got thick, woody stems and come in various lengths (as much as 1,000 m). They depend on trees for support as they climb upwards towards the sunlight they need to live. They do this by attaching themselves to trees with sucker roots or tendrils while climbing or winding themselves around the tree's trunk.
A special vine is the Strangler Fig which is a common name for many species of vines that completely wrap the trunk of a host tree, they will eventually end up strangling. As the host tree dies, one will find that many of these trees have a hollow central core.
Orchids comprise one of the most abundant and varied of flowering plant families. Just for the humid tropics there already are over 20,000 species , most of which grow as Ephiphytes on trees. With modern cultivation techniques, Orchids are getting increasingly sold as ornamental flowers.
The Heliconia flowers are known under various of names such as wild plantain, lobster-claw and false bird-of-paradise flowers. They grow 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 different colors, patterns and sizes, making them increasingly popular decorative flowers worldwide.
Ecuador is gets the richest wet tropical forest in the world, and the Cuyabeno National Park has some 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 enjoy birds, mammals and plants.
About the Author:
Find out where you can find the ornamental flowers in your house growing in the wild. Dr Vreugdenhil, a renowned botanist with 4 decades of experience on the Amazon Rainforest tells you all about flowers of the jungle and where to travel to find gorgeous tropical flowers.
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