Plants of the Rainforest
Epiphytes
These plants are not parasites, they are actually called air plants, this is because they have no attachment to the ground or other obvious nutrient source. This means they are commensalism, meaning it is the symbiotic relationship between two organisms or different species in which derives some benefit while the other is unaffected. Epiphytes normally grow on other plants for support. They can be found high up in the tree canopy growing branches, rooting in pockets of humus and decaying leaves. Many epiphytes can be found growing on rocks or even in soil. They can also be found in shady conditions or positioning themselves in a sunny location. They do not derive any nutrients from the host, instead they gather nutrients from the air or water around them, relying on their host to provide physical support in the form of a place to call home.Many different plant families contain epiphytic members. These extraordinary plants can be found all over the world ,but the most beautiful can be found in the tropical rainforest.
Kingdom:Plantae
Venus Fly Trap
These plants are actually not tropical, they are found in bogs and are native to North America. They usually grow on the coast of North and South Carolina. These are actually common house plants because they help trap and eat insects. Surprisingly, they do not eat meat, so if you keep them as house pets, don't feed it hamburger meat. Also, they need well drained soil that is nutrient poor, because if you give it fertilizer, it will die.On them they have a total of 6 trigger hairs (3 on each lobe). For the digestive track it takes about 10 days to fully digest an insect. There's a catch for there amazing abilities though. They can only make 4-6 catches in its lifetime, after that it withers, turns brown and dies. How do they attract their prey you may ask? They gives off a sweet nectar that attracts the insects,and when the prey lands on the one of the trigger hairs the prey is trapped in its mouth until the flytrap fully digests it's meal. In full sunlight, it takes the plant 1/30 of a second for it's leaves to snap shut, and a slower reaction time in cloudy or low conidtions. It can go dormant for 4-5 months at a time and they love 14 hours of sunlight per day. They are quite intelligent. They can actually understand germs because all of the fresh nutrients will be kept in and any bacteria created from air in conjunction with the dead insect is kept locked.
Kingdom:Plantae
Phylum:Anthophyta(Division)
Class:Magnoliosida(Primitive Flowing Plants)
Order:Nepenthes
Family:Droseraceae
Genus:Dionaea
Species:Muscipula
Subclass:Dillenidae
Phylum:Anthophyta(Division)
Class:Magnoliosida(Primitive Flowing Plants)
Order:Nepenthes
Family:Droseraceae
Genus:Dionaea
Species:Muscipula
Subclass:Dillenidae
Life - Venus Flytraps: Jaws of Death - BBC One by:BBC
Passion Flower
The Passion flower is a deciduous and tropical climbing vine renowned for its beautiful white flowers with purple, blue or pink calyx crown blooms. Being a deciduous vine, it presents a woody base from which the bright, waxy green foliage and vibrantly colored flowers emerge, and as you've probably already figured out, the plant is both deciduous and tropical. They are very attractive, sprawling or climbing up with edible fruits and flowers. It is an interesting rainforest flower because it possess a core of white creamy nectar producing tendrils. The yellow gelatinous pulp inside the fruit is eaten out of hand, as well as mixed with water and sugar to make drinks,sugar to make sherbet, jams, jellies and even salad dressing. It thrives throughout the world in several varieties and hybrids of this plant exist, making it easy to find a species that will grow in wide range of environments. It is indigenous to many tropical and semi-tropical areas from South America to North America, and can grow 10-20ft with alternate leaves.
Modern Use of the Fruit
Used as a sedative, antispasmodic and nerve tonic and it is reported it can relieve:
By appealing the bruised leaves topically to the affected area
-alleviate headaches
-bruises
-general pain
By tea remedy, it can help ease
-colic
-diarrhea
-dysentery
-menstrual difficulties
-insomnia
-neuralgia
-eye disorders
-epilepsy
-convulsionmuscle spasm and pain
-In South America, the fruit juice can help calm down hyperactive children as a natural remedy
-It can also help with anxiety and fertility
-It includes an excellent safety profile
-The FDA regards the flower as a safe and long traditional use of the flower safe for even children and infants
Used as a sedative, antispasmodic and nerve tonic and it is reported it can relieve:
By appealing the bruised leaves topically to the affected area
-alleviate headaches
-bruises
-general pain
By tea remedy, it can help ease
-colic
-diarrhea
-dysentery
-menstrual difficulties
-insomnia
-neuralgia
-eye disorders
-epilepsy
-convulsionmuscle spasm and pain
-In South America, the fruit juice can help calm down hyperactive children as a natural remedy
-It can also help with anxiety and fertility
-It includes an excellent safety profile
-The FDA regards the flower as a safe and long traditional use of the flower safe for even children and infants
Kingdom:Plantae
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:Passifloraceae
Genus:Passiflora
Species:Inarnana edulis
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:Passifloraceae
Genus:Passiflora
Species:Inarnana edulis