what do rainforest flowers look like? how are tropical rainforest flowers different?
First time or casual visitors often expect to see huge flowers everywhere in the tropical rainforest. They are often disappointed.
Part of this expectation comes from the beauty and size of tropical flowers cultivated in botanical and personal gardens around the world.
However, many of these flowers are from tropical areas away from where they are being grown, and most have been modified in some way, selected by humans over generations to bring out the most striking colours and patterns, and even smells.This practise is even continued (indeed, it probably started) in villages throughout Asia and the Pacific that are right on the edge of the rainforest.
In fact, many rainforest flowers are quite small. Many are dull in colour.
They are often small because they are pollinated by small animals such as insects. And being tropical rainforest, there is a huge diversity of insects, so there is a correspondingly huge diversity of small flowers.
Many are dull in colour because they attract night insects through odour.

And many of the larger flowers that are big to attract birds are found at the 'roof' of the forest,
the canopy which we little humans do not normally see from the forest floor..
However, once you start explore the rainforest and spend some time there,
you will start to see lots of flowers.
Where do I find rainforest flowers?
what are flowers?
for a field guide that includes rainforest flowers...
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