Tropical Plants

By: Shannon Burke

California Fan Palm Tree

California Fan Palm TreeREAL NAME - Washingtonia Filifera

Habitat - Most Soils along alkaine streams and mountain canyons in Northern and Southern California ( Some Sub-Species also found in surrounding states such as the deserts of Colorado, Nevada, Arizona and even some parts of Mexico.)

Importance - The fruits, nuts, leaves, and even parts of the trunk are sometimes used in the production of different local remedies for diseases any other medications,

Specific Interactions - Most Americans have an idea of what the California Palm looks like. The best example would be the trees that line the streets leading to Hollywood that most people can picture so well.

Native - These trees are one of only eleven native palm species to North America. Also known as the Califonia Wahingtonia and the Desert Palm, this is one of the largest species of palm trees in all of North America.

Human Impact - The Cahuilla Indians of Southern California called these trees maul meaning "the palm" in their language. These tribes used the palms as a source of food, mainly their fruits or nuts, to makes anything from flour to fruity beverages and jelly. Even still today, these palms are used for the fruits the produced and providing California with the tropical look it is typically associated with.

Bougaihvillea

Bougaihvillea

Location:  The biome of the Amazon rainforest in South America. 

Importance: it is home to different animals

Specific Interactions: mainly with animals and humans

Native: Brazil (mainly), Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela

Human Impact: we have made this into a house plant

Coconut Tree

Coconut tree Location:  The coconut grows in rainforests and other tropical of climates. 

Importance: It provides the food of coconut and leaves

Specific Interactions: it is important for the food that it gives off

Native: to hot areas

Human Impact: We use there leaves for thin such as hats, mats and baskets

Durian

Durian

Location: Southeast Asia

Importance: bares fruit from its trunk and main branches

Specific Interactions:  Scientists think it’s one of the first plants to rely on animals to spread out its seed

Native: Borneo, Indonesia and Malaysia

Human Impact: food source

Kapok Tree

Kapok Tree

Location: West Africa, and the Southeast Asian rainforests of the Malay Peninsula, and the Indonesian archipelago.

Importance: many plants and animals live in the branches of this tree

Specific Interactions: With animals and plants

Native: South America

Human Impact: has been known to cure dysentery, fever, asthma, and kidney disease.

Bengal Bamboo

Bengal Bamboo Rainforest

It can reduce soil erosion. It sucks up water from heavy rains that might cause flooding. It also provides shelter for many animals.

Provides shelter for animals

It is native to India, Burma, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand.

Humans are cutting down the rainforest, which then, in turn, cuts down the Bengal Bamboo

Strangler Figs

Strangler Figs Rainforest

Strangler Figs are an essential part of several animals’ diets.

Provides food to a large majority of the animals that live in the rainforest.

Native to Burma, Ceylon and India.

Humans can disrupt the seed dispersion process, and therefore, negatively affects the Strangler Fig population

Tualang

Tualang Tropical Rainforest

Provides habitat for bees

Bees live within the honeycombs of the Tualang Tree

These trees can be found growing in the lowland forests of southern Thailand, peninsular Malaysia, northeastern Sumatra, Borneo, and Palawan.

Humans have cut down these trees to use as limber. However, the tualang is now protected under Sarawak's Wildlife Protection Bill of 1990.

Jambu

Jambu Rainforest

Southeast Asian rainforest animals, like monkeys, gibbons, and jambu fruit doves, rely on jambu as part of their diet.

Provides food for animals

Southeast Asia

Humans pick the jambu fruit and include it in their diet.

Curare

Curare Rainforest

Is used as medicine for several diseases

It is used as medicine.

South American

Indians of South America crush and cook the roots and stems to create a light syrup. They place this syrup onto their arrows when they hut. It is also used as medicine.

Citation

http://online.factsonfile.com/tropical-forests/chapters/ecology-of-tropical-forests.aspx

http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/rnfrst_plant_page.htm

http://www.desertusa.com/flora/california-fan-palm.html