FBS10 LAB

Trees

Woody perennial plants that produces a single trunk a few meters from the ground, form several branches and exhibit indeterminate growth resulting in considerable height.

Shrub

Smaller woody plants, usually less than three meters in height with multiple small branches from the ground (or close to the ground); also perennial like trees

Lianas

Characterized by having a long, flexible, climbing stems that are rooted in the ground, and usually have long dangling branches. It forms a woody stem which is similar to trees and shrubs.

vines

Mostly nonwoody or herbaceous plants with thin and weak stems hence the need to attach in any surface.

Epiphytes

Include plants like orchids, cacti, bromeliads, lichens, mosses and ferns that can grow in almost any substrate but grows vigorously in large branches or stem of the trees as well as leaves of large trees of tropical rainforest.

Stranglers

Initially grow as an epiphyte as seeds are carried by the wind and settle in the branches of large trees.

Palms

it differs greatly from broadleaf (dicot) and coniferous (gymnosperm) trees in terms of the overall form, external structure (morphology) as well as anatomical structures.

Herbs or forbs

lacks aboveground woody tissue hence they do not grow very tall.

Bamboo

A plant form belonging to the family of grasses, Graminae or Poaceae.

unique structures and their functions

The different plant forms developed structures that aid them to survive better in the hostile conditions present in a tropical rainforest.

Rootsystem

Fibrous roots
Taproot system
Buttress
Prop roots
stilt roots

Fibrous roots

mostly associated with monocotyledons like palm and grasses like bamboo and composed of large numbers of roots of nearly equal size.

Taproot system

presence of a primary root that remains the largest and from which several smaller secondary roots are formed.

Buttress

a modification of the taproot system presents in most large but shallow-rooted trees in a rainforest.

Prop roots

a modification of the root system present among stranglers which initiates their growth as epiphyte and eventually gives off roots that grow into the soil & support the branches; can replace the function of the main stem of the host plant.

stilt roots

associated with the fibrous root types most notably palm species although some dicot mangrove species also produces this type of roots.

Stem

Herbaceous
Woody

Herbaceous

common among non-woody plants and are characterized by very flexible or bendable stems.

Woody

Associated with dicots and some gymnosperms that exhibits secondary growth making the stem harder and sturdier

Common bark surface adaptations

Presence of thorns
Smooth bark
Thick cork layers

Presence of thorns

for protection against herbivory

smooth bark

protection from animals and for water absorption

thick cork layer

mostly produced by temperate species to retain more water in the plant tissues

Leaves

Palmate
Pinnate
Dark colored leaves
Thick cuticle layer
Presence of trichomes presence of spines
leaf angling
leaf holes

palmate fan shaped leaves

aids in efficient photosynthetic activities due to its ability to catch more light and water during the rain event.

pinnate feather like

serve similar functions with palmate but this modification is much common among treelike palms that usually occupy the canopy layer thereby maximizing its photosynthetic potential.

Dark-colored leaves

Gives protection to young and tender tissues from direct exposure to solar radiation at the same time helps to attract pollinators of its small/

Thick cuticle layer

leaf modification characterized by the presence of a waxy surface that insulates the leaf tissues, prevents too much water loss and protects the leaves from being eaten by insects.

Presence of trichomes

Especially among herbaceous plants, the presence of short hairs in the leaves and stem is considered beneficial as it protects the plants from herbivory and dehydration.

Presence of spines

considered as one of the most prominent modifications of the leaf margin, spines is expected to provide protection against herbivory.

leaf angling

individual leaves are arranged in particular angle to avoid shading leaves below-feature that prevent competition for light.

leaf holes

some epiphytes naturally from holes to prevent the leaves from being ripped by strong winds coming from the upper canopy and at the same time allow more sunlight to reach the leaves below or those in the forest floor.