Rain Forest Vocabulary
erosion: The process of eroding the Earth surface by wind,water,ice or other natural agents.
drip tip: The sharp and pointy tip of a leaf where rain water drains away and drips off at the tip.
epiphytes: A plant that grows on another plant but is not a parasite.
liana: A woody climbing plant that hangs from trees.
vines: A climbing or trailing woody-stemed plant of the grape family.
forest layers: emergent - The highest layer in the forest. Where the tallest trees live and get the most sunlight.
forest layers: canopy - The primary layer of the forest (below the emergent layer). Where most of the animal species live.
forest layers: understory - The layer below the canopy. Almost no sunlight reaches it, with small trees.
forest layers: forest floor - The lowest layer of the rainforest. It is dark and very few animals live here.
flowering plant: A plant that produces flowers and seeds.
non-flowering plants: Plants that do not produce flowers.
emergent layer, canopy layer, understory, and forest floor: The four layers of growth in a forest. Each layer has special animals and plants that live there.
shallow root system: When the roots of plant or tree spreads outward instead of going deep into the soil. They get nutrients from the topsoil.
water system: When water is transported by pressure or gravity to a different place. Like a river and its creeks and ponds.
Author: Erik Banuchi (orange jaket) & younger brother Alan.
