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In this lesson we are going to discuss the tropical rainforest vegetation, where it is found and its uses

Answer Text:
Vegetation Zones of the
World
A. Forests
A forest is a continuous
growth of trees and
undergrowths covering large
tracts of land.
1. Tropical Rain Forests
- Known as Selvas in S.
America.
It’s found in the following
areas:
1. Congo Basin
2. Amazon Basin
3. Western sides of India,
Burma and Vietnam.
4. Coastal land of Queensland
Australia.
Characteristics
• Closely set trees with three
distinct canopies.
• There is less undergrowth on
the forest floor due to light
being obstructed by canopies.
• Trees take long time to
grow.
• Trees have large trunks with
buttress roots (radiating wall
like roots).
• Trees have broad leaves to
increase the surface area for
efficient transpiration due to
high precipitation.
• There is varied number of
plants species over a small
portion.
• Trees are tall, have smooth
stems and straight trunks.
• Some trees are evergreen
shedding a few leaves at a
time while others shed leaves
and are left bare.
• Some trees are very heavy
and don’t float on water.
• Trees take very long time to
mature between 70-100years.
Types of trees present are
mahogany, ebony, ironwood,
rose wood, camphor and
Sapele.
Tree creepets and parasites are
found around tall main trees.
Uses of tropical rain Forests
(a) Trees are valuable sources
of timber for furniture,
building and construction.
(b) Oil palms are for
production of palm oil.
(c) Cacao crops for production
of cocoa beans used to make
cocoa used to make chocolates
and beverages.
(d) Chicle from the bark of
Zabote tree is used to make
chewing gum.
(e) Ivory nuts are used for
making buttons.
(f) Fibres from torquilla palm
are used for making hats,
mats, baskets and thatching
materials.
(g) Cinchona tree’s bark
contains quinine used in
malarial treatment.