The Canopy
The Plants of the Forest Floor
Unlike the trees that dominate the canopy and the flowering shrubs that can be found in the understory, the forest floor is populated by a diverse collection of small plants and seldom seen critters. These plants thrive in an environment that has reduced light and is usually wetter and cooler than the surrounding area.
The forest floor is covered with mosses, liverworts, lichens,horsetails and ferns. Each type of forest supports the growth of a different collection of these interesting organisms.
Plants can be divided into two groups, vascular and avascular, based upon the method the plant uses to maintain water within its structure. Plant cells differ from animal cells in several ways. Unlike animals that support their cells with an internal or an external skeleton, plants depend upon water filled cells to provide their structure. Each plant cell has a cellulose cell wall. These cell walls can provide support for the plant if the plant has enough water to keep the cell's vacuole full. Simple plants can get all of the water they need directly from their environment but complex plants have developed vascular systems for transporting water.
