Plants
There are many different types of plants that live in the temperate rainforest biome. A few examples are the coastal redwood (above left), fireweed (above center), and western skunk cabbage (above right).
The coastal redwood are extremely tall trees, and because of this they have shallow root systems that can extend one hundred or more feet from the base of the tree, tangling with the roots of the nearby trees, this helps them to stay stable during strong winds and floods. Coastal redwoods only live at most about fifty miles inland from the Pacific Ocean because the coastal climate helps the trees survive. For example, fog is very important, it protects the trees from the dry summer conditions, that typically appear in this area. Also moderate temperatures year rounds, and winter rain help the coastal redwoods survive.
Fireweed is common in areas that have been burned or cleared, forest openings, and along roads. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, they are also very high in vitamin C. While the stalk can be precessed into fibers that make good ropes or cords. And the seed fluff can be used for two things. First it can be stuffed into a coat to make it warmer, and second it is very flammable so it can be used to help start a fire.
Western skunk cabbage is called skunk cabbage because of the distinct "skunky" smell of it. The smell will saturate the area the plant grows in and sometimes the smell even lingers in old, dried pieces of the skunk cabbage. The smell can attract the organisms that pollinate it, scavenging flies and beetles. Western skunk cabbage can be used for many things. The roots ar food for bears, also it can be used as medicine for burns and other injuries, also when absolutely necessary it can be used as food, but not in large quantities.
An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, like a tree, and gains nutrients and moisture from the rain, the air around it, and even sometimes debris collected around it. Epiphytes are commonly found in the temperate zone (like in temperate rainforests). A few examples of epiphytes are moss, and lichen. Epiphytes use photosynthesis to get energy, and take moisture from the air (rain, fog), roots grow mainly so that the epiphyte can attach to the other plant, usually a tree. Epiphytes are extremely common in temperate rainforests, they cover most trees.
This link has several plants found in the temperate rainforest biome and is a helpful resource: http://www.wildernesscollege.com/temperate-rainforest-plants.html
The coastal redwood are extremely tall trees, and because of this they have shallow root systems that can extend one hundred or more feet from the base of the tree, tangling with the roots of the nearby trees, this helps them to stay stable during strong winds and floods. Coastal redwoods only live at most about fifty miles inland from the Pacific Ocean because the coastal climate helps the trees survive. For example, fog is very important, it protects the trees from the dry summer conditions, that typically appear in this area. Also moderate temperatures year rounds, and winter rain help the coastal redwoods survive.
Fireweed is common in areas that have been burned or cleared, forest openings, and along roads. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, they are also very high in vitamin C. While the stalk can be precessed into fibers that make good ropes or cords. And the seed fluff can be used for two things. First it can be stuffed into a coat to make it warmer, and second it is very flammable so it can be used to help start a fire.
Western skunk cabbage is called skunk cabbage because of the distinct "skunky" smell of it. The smell will saturate the area the plant grows in and sometimes the smell even lingers in old, dried pieces of the skunk cabbage. The smell can attract the organisms that pollinate it, scavenging flies and beetles. Western skunk cabbage can be used for many things. The roots ar food for bears, also it can be used as medicine for burns and other injuries, also when absolutely necessary it can be used as food, but not in large quantities.
An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, like a tree, and gains nutrients and moisture from the rain, the air around it, and even sometimes debris collected around it. Epiphytes are commonly found in the temperate zone (like in temperate rainforests). A few examples of epiphytes are moss, and lichen. Epiphytes use photosynthesis to get energy, and take moisture from the air (rain, fog), roots grow mainly so that the epiphyte can attach to the other plant, usually a tree. Epiphytes are extremely common in temperate rainforests, they cover most trees.
This link has several plants found in the temperate rainforest biome and is a helpful resource: http://www.wildernesscollege.com/temperate-rainforest-plants.html