Q4)

Q4)What plants live in the rainforest?(There are 4 main types of plants. List them all and give examples of each)There is a huge number of plants living in the rainforest. Some are the Orchids, Strangler Fig, Bromeliads and Epiphytes.

Orchids are part of the Orchidaceae family and is the largest group of living flowers. There are around 25,000 species of orchids around the world, with more yet to be discovered. Most orchids adapt well to tropical parts of the world. These beautiful plants range from numerous colours, size and shape. Though they share something in common, the pattern of three petals and three petal-like sepals. Horticulturists ('an expert in the science of cultivating plants-fruit or flowers or vegetables or ornamental plants') have come up with over 100,000 hybrids (to do with genes and species) of commercialization ('the process of of introducing a new product into the market'). The reason being that these orchids are protected under Convention on International trade in Endangered species of Wild fauna and flora (CITES).

The Strangler Fig is mainly part of the Fig family.

(A known fact, in spanish they are known as the 'killer tree'.)

The beginning of a strangler fig is an epiphyte ('air plant: plant that derives moisture and nutrients from the air and rain: usually grows on another plant but not parasitic on it')high in the trees. It then brings down extended roots to the ground where it begins to grow around the host tree. These plants grows quickly and suffocate the host tree. It then grows stronger and stronger, making it strong enough to squeeze the host tree's trunk smaller and smaller. Once it it tight enough for the sap to be unable to travel, the host tree dies. But the Strangler Fig is strong and has taken the place once belonging to the host tree.


The Bromeliad is one of the members of the plant family, Bromeliaceae. This family contains over 3000 species in around 56 genera ('the usual major subdivision of a family or subfamily in the classification of organisms, usually consisting of more than one species').Their thick, waxy leaves make the shape of a bowl to catch rainfall water. A number of Bromeliads can carry big amounts of water and are small ecosystems for animals such as frogs/tadpoles, salamanders, snails, beetles, mosquito larvae etc.

When some die they disintegrate and supply their nutrients into the Bromeliad. It was heard that one Bromeliad was found that contained several small beetles, crane flies, earwigs, a frog, a cockroach, spiders, fly larvae, a millipede, a scorpion, woodlice and an earthworm! One of the most well known Bromeliad is the Pineapple.

Epiphytes, also known as air plants are able to grow everywhere but are mainly found on branches, trunks and leaves of a tree. The name 'Epiphyte' originates from the Greek word 'Epi' meaning 'upon' and 'phyton' meaning 'plant'. Many different species of Epiphytes can live on one tree including orchids, cacti, bromeliads, aroids, lichens, mosses, ferns etc. They start of as seeds/spores in the canopy, brought their by birds or just the wind.