Epiphytes Cattleya sp. Epiphytes are plants that live on the surface ofother plants,especially the trunk and branches.They grow on trees to take advantage of the sunlight in the canopy.Most are orchids,bromeliads,ferns,and Philodendron relatives.Tiny plants called epiphylls,mostly mosses,liverworts and lichens,live on the surface of leaves
Epiphytes Cattleya sp. Epiphytes are plants that live on the surface of other plants, especially the trunk and branches. They grow on trees to take advantage of the sunlight in the canopy. Most are orchids, bromeliads, ferns, and Philodendron relatives. Tiny plants called epiphylls, mostly mosses, liverworts and lichens, live on the surface of leaves
Bromeliads (Neoregeliasp.) Bromeliads are found aimost exclusively in the Americas.Some grow in the ground,like pineapple,but most species grow on the branches of trees.Their leaves form a vase or tank that holds water.Small roots anchor plants to supporting branches,and their broad leaf bases form a water-holding tank or cup.The tank's capacity ranges from half a pint to 12 gallons or more.The tanks support a thriving eco-system of bacteria,protozoa,tiny crustaceans.mosquito and dragonfly larvae,tadpoles,birds. salamanders and frogs
Bromeliads （Neoregelia sp.) Bromeliads are found almost exclusively in the Americas. Some grow in the ground, like pineapple, but most species grow on the branches of trees. Their leaves form a vase or tank that holds water. Small roots anchor plants to supporting branches, and their broad leaf bases form a water-holding tank or cup. The tank's capacity ranges from half a pint to 12 gallons or more. The tanks support a thriving eco-system of bacteria, protozoa, tiny crustaceans, mosquito and dragonfly larvae, tadpoles, birds, salamanders and frogs
Mangroves On tropical deltas and along ocean edges and river estuaries, trees have adapted to living in wet,marshy conditions.These trees,called mangroves,have wide-spreading stilt roots that support the trees in the tidal mud and trap nutritious organic matter
Mangroves On tropical deltas and along ocean edges and river estuaries, trees have adapted to living in wet, marshy conditions. These trees, called mangroves, have wide-spreading stilt roots that support the trees in the tidal mud and trap nutritious organic matter
Nepenthes Pitcher plant vines in the family Nepenthaceae have leaves that form a pitcher,complete with a lid.Sweet or foul- smelling nectar in the pitcher attracts insects,especially ants and flies,that lose their grip on the slick sides and fall into the liquid.Downward-pointing hairs inside the pitcher prevent the insects'escape.Pitcher plants are not epiphytes but climbers rooted in the soil
Nepenthes Nepenthes sp. Pitcher plant vines in the family Nepenthaceae have leaves that form a pitcher, complete with a lid. Sweet or foulsmelling nectar in the pitcher attracts insects, especially ants and flies, that lose their grip on the slick sides and fall into the liquid. Downward-pointing hairs inside the pitcher prevent the insects' escape. Pitcher plants are not epiphytes but climbers rooted in the soil
Bamboo Bambusa spp. Phyllostachys spp. Grass family Bamboo is the world's largest grass and is native to many parts of the world.It is grown throughout the tropics and is used as a source of food as well as for construction and weaving.It has great strength and is used in Japan as scaffolding for building skyscrapers
Bamboo Bambusa spp. Phyllostachys spp. Grass family Bamboo is the world's largest grass and is native to many parts of the world. It is grown throughout the tropics and is used as a source of food as well as for construction and weaving. It has great strength and is used in Japan as scaffolding for building skyscrapers
BANANA AND PLANTAIN Musa x paradisiaca Banana family Bananas and plantains are very closely related.Plantains, however,are used more like a starch than a fruit.Both are native to East Asia and Australia but are now grown throughout the tropics.Though commonly called "trees",they are actually the world's largest herbaceous plants,as they do not develop woody stems like trees
BANANA AND PLANTAIN Musa x paradisiaca Banana family Bananas and plantains are very closely related. Plantains, however, are used more like a starch than a fruit. Both are native to East Asia and Australia but are now grown throughout the tropics. Though commonly called "trees", they are actually the world's largest herbaceous plants, as they do not develop woody stems like trees
SUGAR CANE Saccharum officinarum Grass family The stems of this grass plant can reach 10 feet tall and are rich in sugar.The stems are crushed to extract the sweet juice, which is then processed to obtain sugar.Sugar cane is native to New Guinea.It was introduced into the New World by Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. NUTMEG AND MACE Myristica fragrans Nutmeg family Nutmeg and mace are the only spices that are obtained from the same fruit.Nutmeg is the seed and mace is the red net-like fiber(aril)that surrounds the seed.Nutmeg is native to the Moluccas (Spice Islands)
SUGAR CANE Saccharum officinarum Grass family The stems of this grass plant can reach 10 feet tall and are rich in sugar. The stems are crushed to extract the sweet juice, which is then processed to obtain sugar. Sugar cane is native to New Guinea. It was introduced into the New World by Columbus on his second voyage in 1493. NUTMEG AND MACE Myristica fragrans Nutmeg family Nutmeg and mace are the only spices that are obtained from the same fruit. Nutmeg is the seed and mace is the red net-like fiber (aril) that surrounds the seed. Nutmeg is native to the Moluccas (Spice Islands)
CASSAVA Manihot esculenta Spurge family Native to Mexico,Guatemala and northern B cassava is now grown throughout the tropics.It is the starch staple of over 500 million people.The roots are peeled and boiled (like potatoes)or made into a flatbread. It is in the same family as poinsettia and wild varieties can be toxic if not prepared correctly.Tapioca is made from heated,purified cassava starch and is a common thickening agent
CASSAVA Manihot esculenta Spurge family Native to Mexico, Guatemala and northern Brazil, cassava is now grown throughout the tropics. It is the starch staple of over 500 million people. The roots are peeled and boiled (like potatoes) or made into a flatbread. It is in the same family as poinsettia and wild varieties can be toxic if not prepared correctly. Tapioca is made from heated, purified cassava starch and is a common thickening agent
CHICLE OR SAPODILLA Manikara zopota Sapodilla family Chicle,the original base for chewing gum,comes from the latex(sap)of a tree native from southern Mexico to northern Brazil.When the trunks are scored with diagonal down-sloping cuts,the latex flows from the bark.It is collected,molded into blocks and shipped for processing,where sugar and flavoring are added.Today chicle has been largely replaced with the latex from other trees and by synthetic gums.The fruit of the chicle tree,sapodilla,is delicious
CHICLE OR SAPODILLA Manikara zopota Sapodilla family Chicle, the original base for chewing gum, comes from the latex (sap) of a tree native from southern Mexico to northern Brazil. When the trunks are scored with diagonal down-sloping cuts, the latex flows from the bark. It is collected, molded into blocks and shipped for processing, where sugar and flavoring are added. Today chicle has been largely replaced with the latex from other trees and by synthetic gums. The fruit of the chicle tree, sapodilla, is delicious
ALLSPICE Pimenta dioica Myrtle family Allspice is not a mixture of spices but rather a single fruit that contains the flavors of nutmeg,cinnamon and cloves. The Maya used allspice to embalm the bodies of their leaders
ALLSPICE Pimenta dioica Myrtle family Allspice is not a mixture of spices but rather a single fruit that contains the flavors of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. The Maya used allspice to embalm the bodies of their leaders