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Because the Amazon
is so immense in size, there are numerous species of plants scattered
throughout. Many plants that exist in the Amazon are unlike
any other plants around the world. Many varieties are common
to only certain regions of the Amazon. Most of this is
due to the fact that the Amazon has remained largely untouched
by humans. The forest is truly the lifeblood of the Amazon.
Its houses and provides for all the animals living in it.
It was once discovered that a tree in the Peruvian Amazon harbored
43 different species of ants.
The Amazon Rainforest
is home to a varieyy of plants from the tall trees to the small moss. Tall
trees are the defining look of the rainforest providing for much
beauty and scenery. These trees can grow to be as tall
as 60 feet and as thick as 6 feet in diameter. Because
the Amazon houses a great number of species of trees, there is
no one tree that can be used to stereotype the Amazon.
The variety includes rubber trees, mahogany, purple velvet, and
hundreds of others. A huge source of the world's finest
lumber comes from the Amazon. Dozens of plants also live
on the trees such vines. Vines use the trees as support
to climb up to the top of the canopy where they can obtain a
source of sunlight.
Numerous ground
plants cover the Amazon as well. Ferns are very common
to the Amazon floor. Another common feature of the floor
is large leaves. Plants on the ground need large leaves
to obtain energy from sunlight. In the forest, the canopy
can sometimes block out much of the light. Since light
is the ultimate source of energy for plants, any light that falls
to the forest floor has to be absorbed or it is lost. Large
leaves allow plants to absorb minute amounts of light.
Strewn over logs and other wet places are moss. Moss are
extremely small plants that live in damp, humid places.
They need to live here because only through the water can they
reproduce. Water is a medium through which moss sperm and
eggs can meet to form a zygotes. |