Top 12 Amazon Rainforest Plants to Spot on Your Trip

Amazon Rainforest plants are unique among the rest of the world. The Amazon Rainforest has always been an important destination for photographers all over the globe for good reason.

This vast natural location is the most biodiverse place on the entire planet. With over 80,000 native species of Amazon rainforest plants, It has unique specimens of both flora and fauna that you won’t find anywhere on earth.

Travelers Tip: If you want to get to see these plants remember that it is usually better to go to the Amazon before the Machu Picchu Hike.

Let’s go over the top 12 Amazon Rainforest plants you will spot while on your trip!

1. The Giant Water Lilies of the Amazon Rainforest (Victoria Amazonica)

One of the most recognizable images someone immediately has of an Amazon rainforest plant is the giant water lilies scattered throughout the river by the same name.

These are also known as royal water lily, giant water lily, or Amazon water-platter. The Giant water lily can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in diameter.

These impressive water plants were actually named after Queen Victoria from the United Kingdom and can in some instances hold the full weight of a person.

Classification

• Scientific name: Victoria amazonica
• Higher classification: Victoria
• Rank: Species
• Family: Nymphaeaceae
• Kingdom: PlantaeOrder: Nymphaeales

2. Orchids (Orchidaceae)

Orchids or Orchidaceae. can be found in almost any part of the world, there are around 30,000 different species of orchids after all.

However, the types found in the Amazon rainforest are unique due to the variety of colors which is quite extensive.

You can basically find them in just about every color under the rainbow. These beautiful Amazon rainforest plants can be found in several different shapes and sizes throughout the land.

There are two types of Orchids in particular that most people commonly use but are unaware of the fact. The first is Jasmine, they have quite the fragrance when they bloom at night.

This type of orchid is commonly used for its strong smell. The other type has a big commercial value, it is the vanilla orchid. Yes, that vanilla flavor you love comes from this useful plant which you can find all through Central and South America.

Classification

• Scientific name: Orchidaceae
• Higher classification: Asparagales
• Order: Asparagales
• Rank: Family

3. Rubber Tree (Hevea Brasiliensis)

Next on our list is the Rubber Tree or Hevea brasiliensis. These impressive Amazon rainforest plants grow from 100–130 feet (30–40 meters) in height and are known to live up to and sometimes over 100 years.

You can spot this Rubber tree by its peculiarly shaped green leaves. Once you remove some of its silver bark you will notice the milky white sap which flows quite easily, this is known as latex.

These Amazon trees can begin to be used as sources for latex when they are around 6 or 7 years old. These first few years are considered its immature phase, the next 25 years will be considered as the production phase for this rainforest plant.

The rubber tree sometimes called rubberwood, was only native to the Amazon rainforest however there was a period when seeds were smuggled into Southeast Asia

Classification

• Scientific name: Hevea brasiliensis
• Higher classification: HeveaRank: Species

4. The Heliconia Flower (Heliconiaceae)

The Heliconia flower is also referred to as the hanging lobster claw or parrot flower in some cases. It really depends on how these strangely shaped Amazon rainforest plants look to you.

The flower can come in a variety of shapes actually, the Heliconia will also be very bright.

In total there are about 40 different species of Heliconias. They might not look like it at the beginning but these quirkily shaped flowers are actually related to the banana family.

The flowers on this Amazon rainforest plan are shaped in a way to tuck its nectar way in the back, at the best of the flowers.

This makes it a perfect plant for hummingbirds to feed on. You can find these plants all throughout the Amazon rainforest, they measure from 1.5–15 feet tall (0.05 to 4.5 meters).

Classification

• Family: Heliconiaceae; Vines
• Scientific name: Heliconia
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Higher classification: Heliconiaceae
• Order: Zingiberales
• Rank: Genus

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