The optimal conditions for plants are found in the rainforest. The number of Amazon rainforest plants is approaching half a million, as scientists are identifying new species every day. Such high numbers are totally unknown to colder regions.
Competition at ground level for light and minerals has lead to the development 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' comes from the Greek word 'epi' meaning 'upon' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'. A variety of Ephiphytes may grow on the same tree, including Orchids, Cacti, Bromeliads, Aroids, lichens, mosses and ferns.
While the majority of the 2000 Bromeliad species are Epiphytes growing on trunks, branches and also other plants, some species also grow on the ground or on rocks. A number of them form little areas where the leaves wrap around the stems. These collect rainwater, and in some cases a single plant may contain up to several liters of water. Because these tiny pools are beyond the reach of fishes, they provide save conditions for many aquatic animals, like amphibians with their larvae, snails, mosquito larvae, etc. As a part of those animals die and as they decompose, they provide nutrients that can be absorbed by the host plant. It is not surprising that with colors like purple, blue, orange and red, Bromeliads are cultivated to be sold as ornamentals. The best-known representative of course is the Pine Apple.
Another reaction to the darkness of the tropical rainforest are from the vines, a diverse life form of fast growing plants, that use tree trunks to assist them to get to the light of the canopies quickly. They attach themselves to some host tree with sucker roots or tendrils and/or by winding themselves around them. Nine out of ten species of vines grow in the tropical forest. The woody vines are usually called Lianas and some may grow a thousand meters long while they spread from crown to crown.
A special group of vines is commonly referred to as Strangler Figs. They completely grow around their host tree, wrapping it with their own new tree trunk, and in the end 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 occupied by wildlife for shelter.
No other group of flowering plants is as numerous as the Orchids. Their number in the Amazon rainforest alone already exceeds 20,000 species, where they mainly grow on trees as Epiphytes. Orchids are becoming increasingly popular plants to the horticultural market as buyers value the longer lives of the flowers.
Wild plantain, Lobster-claw and False bird-of-paradise flowers are alternative names for Heliconias, gorgeous flowers often featuring rainbows of colors and shapes, patterns and sizes that make them popular for floral arrangements. The shapes of several of the flowers cause them to be accessible just to very specific species of birds and insects.
Ecuador is has the richest tropical forest worldwide, and the Cuyabeno Wildlife 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 greatest Amazon park to watch birds, mammals and plants.
Competition at ground level for light and minerals has lead to the development 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' comes from the Greek word 'epi' meaning 'upon' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'. A variety of Ephiphytes may grow on the same tree, including Orchids, Cacti, Bromeliads, Aroids, lichens, mosses and ferns.
While the majority of the 2000 Bromeliad species are Epiphytes growing on trunks, branches and also other plants, some species also grow on the ground or on rocks. A number of them form little areas where the leaves wrap around the stems. These collect rainwater, and in some cases a single plant may contain up to several liters of water. Because these tiny pools are beyond the reach of fishes, they provide save conditions for many aquatic animals, like amphibians with their larvae, snails, mosquito larvae, etc. As a part of those animals die and as they decompose, they provide nutrients that can be absorbed by the host plant. It is not surprising that with colors like purple, blue, orange and red, Bromeliads are cultivated to be sold as ornamentals. The best-known representative of course is the Pine Apple.
Another reaction to the darkness of the tropical rainforest are from the vines, a diverse life form of fast growing plants, that use tree trunks to assist them to get to the light of the canopies quickly. They attach themselves to some host tree with sucker roots or tendrils and/or by winding themselves around them. Nine out of ten species of vines grow in the tropical forest. The woody vines are usually called Lianas and some may grow a thousand meters long while they spread from crown to crown.
A special group of vines is commonly referred to as Strangler Figs. They completely grow around their host tree, wrapping it with their own new tree trunk, and in the end 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 occupied by wildlife for shelter.
No other group of flowering plants is as numerous as the Orchids. Their number in the Amazon rainforest alone already exceeds 20,000 species, where they mainly grow on trees as Epiphytes. Orchids are becoming increasingly popular plants to the horticultural market as buyers value the longer lives of the flowers.
Wild plantain, Lobster-claw and False bird-of-paradise flowers are alternative names for Heliconias, gorgeous flowers often featuring rainbows of colors and shapes, patterns and sizes that make them popular for floral arrangements. The shapes of several of the flowers cause them to be accessible just to very specific species of birds and insects.
Ecuador is has the richest tropical forest worldwide, and the Cuyabeno Wildlife 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 greatest Amazon park to watch 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 tropical ecologist with 4 decades of experience on the Amazon Rainforest tells you all about plants and flowers and where to go to find marvelous tropical flowers.
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