A bit about plants

[13.01.19 Author: Laura Kor]

Rainforests are an indisputable paradise for entomologists. Additionally, as someone fascinated by botany, I’m always stunned by the incredible plant life which surrounds me when I step into the tropics. The diversity of tropical plants makes their identification to species level really difficult, but here’s a blog post introducing the characteristics of rainforest habitats and some of the incredible plant forms we’ve seen, both in French Guiana and on other Neotropical adventures.

The complex structure of a rainforest is clearly seen from the water’s edge

Rainforests have a complex structure with many tall trees. Unlike woodlands in the UK, which usually have a neat canopy, understory, shrub and ground flora layer, rainforests are multi-layered with vegetation of all heights and forms, often covered in air plants, vines and climbers. Mature emergent trees have a distinctive umbrella shape with no branches on their trunk – this helps them shoot up above the dark understory in the race for sunlight.

Lianas, stranglers and epiphtyes (or air plants) add to the stunning complexity of tropical habitats

You might associate palms with beautiful sandy beaches and tasty coconuts, but they are also an important part of terrestrial forests, with 2,550 different palm species in the world! Palms are monocots, more closely related to grasses and lilies than the big hard wood trees which they brush up against in the forest. Their fruits provide an important food source for birds and other animals and humans use their leaves for thatching, spines for hunting, and fruit for eating.

Palms come in many forms and provide important resources for people and animals

Even tree roots come in incredible forms in the tropics. Buttress roots thickly radiate from high up on tree barks; stilt roots branch out in every direction from the base of trees; while surface roots spread for long distances along the ground, ready to trip up an unobservant hiker. Each has their purpose. Nutrients in tropical forests are concentrated in the top layer of soil, therefore buttresses and surface roots spread to maximise mineral uptake while still providing support to the tree. Stilt roots are usually found in swampy areas and along waterways, helping to anchor trees in place even as sediment shifts with the tide and running water. Mangroves are characterised by such trees, which stabilise the ground and protect against the impacts of tsunamis.

Buttress, stilt and surface roots of tropical trees

So if you get the chance to walk around a tropical forest, take the time to appreciate the huge diversity of plants which surround you and the amazing forms they take. Aside from their beauty, they are supporting all of the other incredible wildlife crawling, climbing and flying around you!