Flora in the Amazon Rainforest
Facts:
More than 2/3 of the plant species in the world can be found in the Amazon Rainforest.
The plants are known to have medicinal qualities
One of the trees that grow in the Amazon Rainforest can be used to cure cancer and maybe even AIDS.
A rainforest has four parts to it which include:
The Emergent Layer contains the tallest trees in the rainforest reaching more than 60 metres above the forest floor. The animals found in this layer include eagles, monkeys, butterflies and bats.
The Canopy forms a roof over the rest of the rainforest and grows at a height of 25-45 metres. It stops light from reaching in and protects the soil from erosion. Snakes, tree frogs, monkeys and sloths can be found here.
The under story is made up of small trees, vines, ferns and shrubs that do not grow to be very high. There is little to no sunlight so plants grow bigger leaves to reach it. Jaguars, frogs and many insects live here.
The forest floor is dark due to all of the trees above it and almost no plants grow here. It is covered in a layer of leaves, seeds, fruits and dead plants that decay quickly like a compost pile. Giant anteaters, invertebrates and micro-organisms live in this area.