Rain Forest Plants

Rain forests are home to half the plants and animals in the world, but they only take up 6 percent of the Earth's surface. Their unique ecosystems make them teeming with life. Many of the plants that live in the rain forest are unlike anything found in other parts of the world. Rain forests are found in Central America, South America, Africa, Southern Asia and Australasia.

Bromeliads

• Bromeliads are plants that catch rainwater with their bowl-shaped leaves that hold gallons of water. These bowls provide homes to insects, larvae and frogs. When they die in the plants leaf bowls, the decomposing bodies provide nutrients for the plants. These plants are part of the pineapple family and are native to Central and South America.

Epiphytes

• Epiphytes, also called air plants, grow on other trees. They can be found on the branches, trunks, leaves and limbs of trees. They aren't considered a parasite because they don't use the host plant for nutrients; instead, the host simply provides a structure for the Epiphyte to grow. Epiphytes can be found in all the rain forests including Africa, the Americas, Australasia and Asia.

Saprophytes

• Saprophytes are the decomposers in the rain forest, quickly breaking down plant and animal matter that falls on the forest floor. In hot, humid conditions, they can break down organic matter in 24 hours. Some fungi are a type of Saprophytes, which can look like mushrooms. They are found in both subtropical and tropical rain forests.

Lianas

• Lianas are a climbing vine that can grow to be 3,000 feet long. These plants start growing on the rain forest floor but attach themselves to trees as they grow up toward the sun. Some types of lianas are used in basket weaving and rope furniture. They are found most abundantly in the tropical rain forests.

Mangrove Rainforest Trees

• Mangrove trees grow along the water's edge in loose, wet soil. They grow stilt roots that tent around them into the ground to support them and keep them from falling over. Soil gets trapped in between the stilt roots, further adding to the support. Mangrove rain forest trees are found in Asian, Australasian, African and American rain forests.

Carnivorous Plants

• Carnivorous plants get much of their nutrition from bugs and animals that become ensnared in their traps. These plants can be 30 feet tall and might catch small mammals or even reptiles. The Venus fly trap is a well-known type of carnivorous plant. These plants grow on every continent.

Strangler

• The strangler tree is also known as the killer tree, and it is part of the fig family. This tree is born from a seed on a tree limb. From there, the tree sends roots to the ground. The roots eventually cover the host tree, blocking light and eventually killing it. This type of tree is most abundant in South America.

Bengal Bamboo

• The bengal bamboo is native to the southeastern Asia rain forest. This type of bamboo grows to 80 feet tall, and, like all bamboo, is a type of grass. It is an important part of the ecosystem in a rain forest because it uses so much water and provides shelter for animals.

Jambu

• Jambu is a fruit-bearing plant that is native to southern India and eastern Malaysia. This plant grows as a small tree or as a shrub and provides food for monkeys and jambu fruit doves.