Also in Animals
& Plants:
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Insects and Spiders
Fish and Amphibians
PLANTS
Well we can't have a jungle without plants can we? Our plants create
the feel of the rainforest and give the birds and animals that live in
them a real feeling of security and privacy. In fact often we don't even
know when our birds are breeding until their babies start to learn to
fly!
Rainforest conditions with high humidity, no direct sunlight and of course
damp soil makes the selection of our plant species sometimes very difficult,
here is a bit more information on some of the different types that thrive
in this situation. Some you may recognise as popular house plants but
ours are many times bigger!
BROMELIADS
This is the Pineapple family! There are over 1,400 species that live in
Tropical America. Some have hard spiky leaves (like the Pineapple) and
produce a central brightly coloured flower.
These leaves are arranged to allow water to collect within them ensuring
that the plant never dries out. Frogs often use these reservoirs of water
as nurseries for their eggs and tadpoles! Other Bromeliads, called 'Air
plants', have evolved to grow without soil and can be seen hanging from
the branches of the trees.
FIG FAMILY
Ficus
This
large family of plants comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Ficus
decora, also known as the Rubber Plant, has large shiny leaves and
can grow to a huge size given the correct conditions. Ficus benjamina,
known as the Weeping Fig has small leaves and drooping branches but again
can grow quite large, in fact we have specimens that are over 10ft tall!
SWISS
CHEESE PLANT
Monstera deliciosa
This rainforest plant produces aerial roots that allow it to absorb extra
water from the atmosphere as well as from the ground. They also help to
stabilise the plant as it grows by anchoring it to nearby trees and rocks.
PEACE LILY
Spathiphyllum
Found
in Central and South America this plant enjoys living in the shade created
by the larger plants and trees in the Rainforest. It grows in a clump
with new plants appearing around the 'parent' plant. Twice a year it sends
out a 'hood' like white flower that is quite long-lived.
This plant is also one of the most commonly kept 'house plants' in the
UK, although not always successfully! If you have difficulty getting yours
to produce flowers, move it somewhere darker!
ORCHIDS
Orchidaceae
This is a large and varied family. Many have beautiful
flowers but it can be difficult to keep them healthy. As their flowers
last a number of months we rotate our orchids around Amazon World putting
them into our 'Orchid World' display just as they flower and then returning
them to their growing areas when the blooms fall off.
Orchids are found in many different habitats including rainforests and
the fruit of one species, the Vanilla Orchid, has been used by humans
to flavour food for at least 1,000 years having first been used by the
Totanaca tribe of Central America.
BAMBOO
This
plant comes in many varieties. Some grow in dense clumps while others
grow in lines. We use species according to its suitability for a particular
enclosure. In our 'River' section the clump of Bamboo provides a secluded
area for our Flamingos to nest in. We also grow Bamboo outside in front
of our façade, here it helps to give a jungle feel and as it is very quick
growing we can also harvest it and give it to our primates to nibble and
play with!
Amazon World Zoo Park Watery Lane, Nr Arreton, Isle of Wight PO36 0LX
Tel: 01983 867122 Fax: 01983 868560 Email: info@amazonworld.co.uk