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In the darkness of the understory, vines have an
advantage over slower-growing trees. |
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Vines are everywhere in the rainforest! Vines have a
distinct advantage over trees because they can grow quickly towards the canopy,
using existing trees for support. |
On the other hand, there is the "strangler fig", which
starts its growth in the tops of trees and works down - until its roots enter
the ground. After that, it grows rapidly until it completely encompasses the
host tree, killing it, and replacing it with the "strangler fig
tree". |
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This small palm requires birds to eat its fruit and
scatter its seeds. Do you think it has adapted to discourage others from
getting its' seeds? |
This plant advertises to encourage consumption of its
seeds. Many plants require consumption of seeds - either to simply be spread by
animals, or in some cases seeds must be passed through the intestines of an
animal before germination. |
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