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Tropical rainforest
Here temperatures are high and the air is moistall year round.
The rainforest has such a densetangle of vegetation that it is often difficult todistinguish the various layers.
Plants, such asorchids, even grow on the trunks and branches oftrees and fallen logs.
There are so many differentkinds of trees that there may be two or eventhree layers of understorey, formed by differentspecies.
Climbing figs, vines and lianas danglefrom the branches high in the canopy.
Herbs andshrubs carpet the forest floor.
Leaves and fallentrees rot quickly in the moist, warm atmosphere,aided by many different fungi.
Deciduous forest
These forests are found in temperate climates.
The main tree species are deciduous, whichmeans that they shed their leaves in winter, or inthe dry season.
For part of the year the forestfloor receives plenty of light, so herbs mayflourish there.
Many put out their leaves while thetrees are still leafless.
These forests have strongseasonal patterns of producing leaves, flowers,fruits and nuts.
The understorey may includeoccasional evergreen trees and shrubs, such asholly and yew.
Ivy, honeysuckle, clematis andother shrubs and herbs may climb or twine upthe trees towards the light.
Coniferous forest
Coniferous forest is found further north andhigher up mountain slopes than any other kind offorest.
The main trees are conifers (cone-bearingtrees) such as pines.
Most are evergreen, withnarrow leaves coated in shiny wax to reducewater loss, which would otherwise be high onwindswept mountain slopes.
They can alsosurvive drought and the freezing of soil water inwinter.
Their branches slope downwards, so snoweasily slides off.
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