3.2.5. Tropical rain forests:

♤ Tropical rain forests occur near the equator.

♤ Tropical rain forests are among the most diverse and rich communities on the earth.

♤ Both temperature and humidity remain high and more or less uniform.

♤ The annual rainfall exceeds 200 cm and is generally distributed throughout the year.

♤ The flora is highly diversified

♤ The extreme dense vegetation of the tropical rain forests remains vertically stratified with tall trees often covered with vines, creepers, lianas, epiphytic orchids and bromeliads.

♤ The lowest layer is an understory of trees, shrubs, herbs, like ferns and palms.

♤ Soil of tropical rainforests are red latosols, and they are very thick.

♤ The high rate of leaching makes these soils virtually useless for agricultural purposes, but when left undisturbed, the rapid cycling of nutrients within the litter layer, formed due to decomposition can compensate for the natural poverty of the soil.

♤ Undergrowth is restricted in many areas by the lack of sunlight at ground level.