Erika+Manfred's photos with the keyword: hoch

Tag 18 - 7.9.2013 siehe auch: mamutropicalskywalk.com.au Rainforest: The geology and terrain of the landscape have created conditions ideally suited to the development of rainforest. Basalt rocks weathered to produce fertile, deep red-brown soils; the surrounding high mountains intercept moist winds from the ocean and more than 4 m of rain falls each year. At this relatively low altitude (330 m) the climate remains warm all year round. Not all rainforests are the same. The most complex rainforests have developed in areas with the highest rainfall, the richest, most fertile soils and a warm climate. The rainforest in the Palmerston area is one of the most complex, diverse and species-rich in Australia. Known as complex mesophyll vine forest, it has the largest variety of plants, the tallest trees bearing the largest leaves, with the most vines, ferns and epiphytes. The Palmerston rainforest is particularly important as it represents the largest remaining continuous stand of this forest type growing on basalt soils. The canopy in the Mamu rainforest is about 25 m high with the tallest trees emerging above the canopy to a height of about 30 m. Trees that form the closed canopy are long-lived, relatively slow-growing species known as climax species. The canopy is dominated by Johnstone River hardwoods Backhousia bancrofti, left intact after selective logging early last century. Many other species are also present including satin ashes, silky oaks, tamarinds, figs, mahoganies, walnuts, laurels and beeches. After a disturbance creates a gap in the canopy, fast-growing short-lived tree species, known as pioneers, appear in the rainforest understorey. Pioneers such as bleeding hearts (Homalanthus novoguineensis), chinky pines Polyscias murrayi and stinging trees Dendrocnide moroides are readily observed competing for space and light around the elevated walkway and tower. Many rainforest trees produce fruits—some produce year-round while other species produce fruits only in particular months. This means that at any time of the year a wide variety of fallen fruits, in many colours and shapes, can be found scattered along the tracks and walkways. Several trees along the walking tracks produce their flowers and fruits on their trunks (known as cauliflory). Bumpy satinash Syzygium cormiflorum produce large fluffy white flowers followed by white apple-like fruits from their bumpy trunks. Many Davidson's plums Davidsonia pruriens grow along the walking tracks; some of these are also trunk-fruiting, producing large dark-purple plums from their trunks as well as their branches. Strangler figs Ficus spp. can be seen from the elevated walkway. Fig trees germinate in the branches of other trees, sending down roots to the ground while growing up towards the light, overshadowing their hosts. A fig's roots grow into a living lattice around their host tree, which eventually dies as a result of being out-competed for life-sustaining resources. Quelle: Wikipedia

HFF - Happy Fence Friday