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How are Plants Adapted to the Rainforest?
Curriculum Links
AQA Entry Level: Unit 6 – Ecosystems: 14.4.7 – The
adaptations of the vegetation to the climate
AQA GCSE A: Living World: The vegetation adapts to
the climate and soils and is in harmony with it
AQA AS/A Level: Ecosystems: Change and Challenge:
Ecological responses to the climate and soil moisture
budget – adaptations by vegetation and animals
Edexcel Entry Level: Ecosystems: Recognise and
describe the special features of tropical rainforest trees
that help them thrive
Summary • The aim of this self-guided resource is to encourage pupils to think about how different plants have adapted
to living in the Tropical Rainforest.
• Two versions of some of the worksheets are available for this resource depending on the ability of the pupils in
your group – one slightly easier, one slightly more difficult.
• The first part of this resource can be completed as a pre-visit activity in which pupils research the basic
adaptations that vegetation found in the rainforest might display. Depending on ability pupils can either
research the adaptations listed to discover the purpose of these for themselves or match each adaptation to
the descriptions given – an answer sheet has been provided for your convenience.
• Pupils can then look out for these adaptations either in Tropical World at Marwell Wildlife or by researching
rainforest vegetation on the internet. Two activities are suggested for doing this – one in which pupils record
information about the plant they identify and its adaptations in a tabular format, and one in which pupils
practice the skills of annotated sketches to make a record of different plants and their adaptations (this could
be good preparation for future fieldwork/GCSE Coursework/Controlled Assessments) – an example of Devil’s Ivy
is given. Pupils could do one or both of these activities. In addition to the example of Devil’s Ivy as an annotated
photo, a number of other examples of Tropical Rainforest plant species can be found at the bottom of this
document – all of which can be seen in Marwell’s Tropical World.
• A follow-up activity is suggested in which pupils rank the importance of the adaptations they have discovered
to encourage pupils to think about these adaptations at a deeper level. Two versions of this are provided – one
with additional structure to help pupils who need it to organise their response.
• Finally, this pack also includes some exam style questions based on this topic to provide pupils with some
practice in using their acquired understanding to answer such questions. There are two sets of questions – one
with sentence starters to support pupils who need it and one without.
How are Plants Adapted to the Rainforest? Match the adaptations to their descriptions
Drip Tips
Leaf Angling
Epiphytes
Thin Bark
Purpose:
Purpose:
Purpose:
Purpose:
Purpose:
Purpose:
Purpose:
Purpose:
Buttress Roots
Stilt Roots
Red Leaves
Lianas
How are Plants Adapted to the Rainforest?
Leaves are often arranged at different angles so that a plant avoids shading its own leaves – important in rainforests where competition for light is intense
In a similar way to buttress roots, these provide tall rainforest trees with support as
they are anchored in the shallow rainforest soils
These plants live on the surface of other plants, mostly tree trunks and branches. This allows them to make the most of the sunlight in the canopy layer
Rainforest trees don’t need thick bark to prevent moisture like those in temperate deciduous forests – there is
always plenty of rain and thus moisture available. Therefore bark is often thin and smooth – the smoothness may also make it more difficult for other plants to grow on tree surfaces
Leaves often have a waxy surface with pointed tips at the end to enable excess rainwater to run-off easily. This is important because it prevents the growth of algae, which if able to grow would block out sunlight and reduce a plants ability to photosynthesise
Young rainforest plant saplings may have these to give them protection from the
sunlight whilst their internal organs for photosynthesis are still developing. They act as a sunscreen by reflecting red light whilst the leaf is still young
Rainforest soils are very thin and therefore shallow roots are needed to soak up nutrients in these thin soils. Since trees in the rainforest grow very tall – many over
30m tall in the canopy layer – massive buttress roots form to give these tall trees extra stability in the shallow soils
These plants have their roots in the ground and use other trees to climb up into the rainforest canopy to maximise the sunlight they receive. Many start life in the canopy before sending roots down to the ground
Match the adaptations to their descriptions
Drip Tips
Leaf Angling
Epiphytes
Thin Bark
Buttress Roots
Stilt Roots
Red Leaves
Lianas
How are Plants Adapted to the Rainforest? - ANSWERS
Leaves are often arranged at different angles so that a plant avoids shading its own leaves – important in rainforests where competition for light is intense
In a similar way to buttress roots, these
provide tall rainforest trees with support as they are anchored in the shallow rainforest soils
These plants live on the surface of other plants, mostly tree trunks and branches. This allows them to make the most of the sunlight in the canopy layer
Rainforest trees don’t need thick bark to prevent moisture like those in temperate deciduous forests – there is
always plenty of rain and thus moisture available. Therefore bark is often thin and smooth – the smoothness may also make it more difficult for other plants to grow on tree surfaces
Leaves often have a waxy surface with
pointed tips at the end to enable excess rainwater to run-off easily. This is important because it prevents the growth of algae, which if able to grow would block out sunlight and reduce a plants ability to photosynthesise
Young rainforest plant saplings may have these to give them protection from the sunlight whilst their internal organs for
photosynthesis are still developing. They act as a sunscreen by reflecting red light whilst the leaf is still young
Rainforest soils are very thin and therefore shallow roots are needed to soak up nutrients in these thin soils. Since trees in the rainforest grow very tall – many over
30m tall in the canopy layer – massive buttress roots form to give these tall trees extra stability in the shallow soils
These plants have their roots in the ground and use other trees to climb up into the rainforest canopy to maximise the sunlight they receive. Many start life in the canopy before sending roots down to the ground
Match the adaptations to their descriptions
Drip Tips
Leaf Angling
Epiphytes
Thin Bark
Buttress Roots
Stilt Roots
Red Leaves
Lianas
Name of Plant Quick Sketch/Description Adaptations to the Rainforest
Example Devil’s Ivy
Large green heart-shaped leaves – leaf size increases with height; Climbs up other trees (Epiphyte)
Large leaves to capture sunlight; leaves angled away from each other to avoid shading its own leaves; drip tips to get rid of excess rainwater; aerial
roots for climbing to reach sunlight in canopy layer
Tropical World Activity 1 Task: Use the table below to record some of the adaptations the plants in Marwell’s Tropical World have for surviving in the rainforest.
Devil’s Ivy Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Aureum’
Waxy Drip-Tip Leaves –
These enable excess rainwater to run-off, preventing the growth of algae which would reduce
light to the plant and therefore its ability to photosynthesise if allowed to grow
Epiphyte – Climbs up the
trunks of other trees by attaching itself to them with aerial roots in order to reach light in the canopy
Leaf Angling – Leaves
arranged at different angles to avoid shading its own leaves in order to capture as much sunlight as possible
Leaf Size – Leafs become
larger as the plant rises to
make the most of increased sunlight
Tropical World Activity 2
Task: Draw 3 annotated sketches to show how 3 plants in Marwell’s Tropical World are adapted to the Rainforest. Below is an example.
Plant Name:
Tropical World Activity 2
Plant Name:
Tropical World Activity 2
Plant Name:
Tropical World Activity 2
How are Plants Adapted to the Rainforest?
In the space below rank the adaptations on the left in the order of how important you think each is (1 = Most Important, 8 = Least Important). You must justify your order.
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6. 7.
8. My order justified... I think the most important adaptation is because
I think the least important adaptation is because
Drip Tips
Leaf Angling
Epiphytes
Thin Bark
Buttress Roots
Stilt Roots
Red Leaves
Lianas
How are Plants Adapted to the Rainforest?
In the space below rank the adaptations on the left in the order of how important you think each is (1 = Most Important, 8 = Least Important). You must justify your order.
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6. 7.
8. My order justified...
Drip Tips
Leaf Angling
Epiphytes
Thin Bark
Buttress Roots
Stilt Roots
Red Leaves
Lianas
Exam Style Questions
1. Explain one way in which rainforest trees are adapted to their climate (2) .......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
2. Explain one way in which rainforest trees are adapted to their soils (2)
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. Describe and explain three adaptations plants might have to help them survive in the rainforest (6)
1. Adaptation:......................................................................................................................................................................
This is useful in the rainforest because ......................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
2. Adaptation:......................................................................................................................................................................This is useful in the rainforest because ......................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
3. Adaptation:......................................................................................................................................................................
This is useful in the rainforest because ......................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
Exam Style Questions
1. Explain one way in which rainforest trees are adapted to their climate (2) .......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................
2. Explain one way in which rainforest trees are adapted to their soils (2)
.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. Describe and explain three adaptations plants might have to help them survive in the rainforest (6)
1. ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
2. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
3. ...........................................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................................................................
Devil’s Ivy Epipremnum pinnatum ‘Aureum’
Waxy Drip-Tip
Leaves – These enable excess
rainwater to run-off,
preventing the
growth of algae
which would
reduce light to the
plant and therefore
its ability to
photosynthesise if
allowed to grow
Epiphyte – Climbs up the trunks of
other trees by
attaching itself to
them with aerial
roots in order to
reach light in the
canopy
Leaf Angling – Leaves arranged
at different angles
to avoid shading
its own leaves in
order to capture
as much sunlight
as possible
Leaf Size – Leaves become larger as
the plant rises to
make the most of
increased sunlight
Xanthosoma violacea
Waxy drip-tip
leaves – Allow excess
rainwater to
run-off
Leaf Angling – Leaves
arranged at
different
angles to
avoid shading
its own leaves
in order to
capture as
much sunlight
as possible
Vanilla Orchid Vanilla planifolia varietgata
Climber – Climbs into the canopy
to find more
sunlight
Thick Waxy
Leaves – Allow excess rainwater
to run-off whilst
retaining water
needed within the
leaves – Important
since relies on
aerial roots
Swiss Cheese Plant Monstera deliciosa
Holes in
Leaves – Stop the
leaves
being
ripped by
high winds in
the upper
canopy
Holes in
Leaves – Enable to
run-off more
quickly
Holes in
Leaves – Allow more
sunlight to
reach the
leaves
below
Anthurium hybrids
Waxy drip-tip
leaves – Allow excess rainwater to
run-off
Colourful flowers – Attract insects
down to the forest
floor to enable
pollination
Alocasia x amazonica
Waxy drip-tip
leaves – allow excess
rainwater to
run-off
Leaf Angling – Leaves
arranged at
different
angles to
avoid
shading its
own leaves in
order to
capture as
much sunlight
as possible
Jagged Leaf
Shape and
Veins – allow excess
rainwater to
run-off