rainforestplantadaptationsper4

Plants & Their Adaptations Main Page-Abiotic Factors- Animals & Adaptations-Human Effects-Bibliography  
 *  **Lianas** are woody vines that drape over surrounding rainforest trees. They have roots in the group but grow into the canopy of the trees in order to get to available sunlight. Below is a picture of one.

> > > > > > > > >  >  
 * **Drip Tips** are an adaptation that the leaves of many plants in the rainforest have made. These drip tips allow rain to run off quickly, because if water is on the plant to long, fungus will grow with the warm and moist climate. Below is a picture of drip tips on the leaves of a tree in the Amazon.
 * Trees in the rainforest have adapted to growing **buttresses**. THese are massive ridges that start about 30 feet high on a tree, and their roots ccreate extra stability because rain forest tree roots are shorter than most other tree roots. Below is an example of a buttress on a Eugenia Tree. [[image:flying-buttresses-01.jpg width="255" height="335" align="center"]]
 * Trees in this biome also have thin, **smooth bark**. In dry forests, trees have thicker bark to lock in moisture, which is not needed in this moist enviornment.Below is an example of smooth bark on a cinnamon tree.


 * **Prop and stilt roots** are another adaptations that help with the trees' short, weaker roots. These trees, however, grow a lot slower, only about 28 inches a month.Below is a picture of stilt roots on an Arboreal Palm tree.