Amazing plant life of the Amazon

With its lush green looks and unspoiled interior, it will probably come as no surprise that the Amazon jungle is home to some of the most varied, diverse and unique plant life anywhere in the world.

In fact, the rainforest contains over 40,000 plant species and there may be many more just waiting to be discovered by intrepid Amazon Jungle expeditions.

Though it’s impossible to name all of the exotic plants to be found in the rainforest, here’s some fascinating Amazon Rainforest info about some of the most important and surprising jungle plants around.

The kapok tree

Growing up to 70m tall and with a trunk up to 3m in diameter, the giant kapok tree plays an incredibly important role in regulating jungle life and providing shelter for smaller species.

Different parts of the tree, especially the bark, are used to treat a variety of illnesses including headaches and type II diabetes. It is also added to some versions of the hallucinogenic drink Ayahuasca.

Orchids

With their bright colours, ornate flowers and elegant designs, orchids are one of the most beautiful and enticing plants in the Amazon.

The wet, warm conditions of the jungle are perfect for these rainforest plants and flowers can be up to 14ft with petals anywhere up to 30 inches.

The rubber tree

A quick look through any Amazon Rainforest info sheet will tell you that a lot of the Amazon’s economy, especially in Brazil, was originally built on the rubber trade.Amazon Expeditions

Though it may seem strange, rubber actually comes from trees and huge amounts of the stuff once flowed out of the jungle. Today, the trade is a lot smaller but rubber is still made from the sap of this useful vegetation.

Cacao

With chocolate bars now available from pretty much every shop on every street corner, the cocoa plant may no longer seem very exotic, but just imagine what it was like for those early jungle explorers?

Originating in the lowlands of the Amazon River basin, the cacao plant has given the world one of its very favourite teatime treats and is now one of the most in-demand plants around.

With tens of thousands of plant species in a relatively small area, the Amazon is one of the most diverse and important places on earth, so why not pick up an Amazon Rainforest info sheet now and begin learning all about this unique biosphere today.