Tropical Rainforest Pictures Gallery II

"Jungle, Jungle, Everywhere!"

These tropical rainforest pictures illustrate the diversity of plant life and complexity of habitats making up equatorial forests. With thousands of tropical trees, jungle vines, and forest fungi entwined under a lofty green canopy, there are plenty of botanical choices of interest.

Next time you go trekking, take a few moments to observe the rich abundance of jungle plants and their amazing adaptations for survival.

After a few nature outings you'll soon have your own tropical rainforest picture collection. Click on the gallery links below for more jungle pictures or follow the link at the bottom of each page.

Tropical Rainforest Pictures Galleries

• Rainforest Pictures I: Borneo and Sumatra Species Too
• Reptiles of the Rainforest I: More Than Just Snakes
• Reptiles of the Rainforest II: Lizards, Geckos, Skinks
• Rainforest Videos Collection: Get A View Of Jungle Life

Kapur Tree Canopy - Reaching Skyward for Sunlight

Standing under the forest canopy of giants beckons another world. Actually two worlds. The prime real estate of the sunbathed canopy roof allows flowering trees, jungle vines, orchids and epiphytes to flourish and gain access to bees, bats, birds and other life-spreading pollinators.

The other world is the understorey below the well lit canopy. This is where shade makes life a bit harder and plants must tolerate it or fill the gaps left from fallen branches and decayed trunks. The layers of the rainforest each have their own fascinating jungle tales.

The Kapur tree above exhibits the unique habit of its leaves leaving a gap to avoid overlapping with the crown of a similar tree. This phenomenon, known as "crown shyness", creates picturesque jigsaw puzzle patterns.

Once the annoyance of leeches and tropic heat dissipate, the jungle inspires. Charles Darwin recalled that "where the powers of Life are predominant ... no one can stand in these solitudes unmoved, and not feel that there is more in man than the mere breath of his body."

Darwin spent years searching in rainforest and island habitats to ponder the natural realm. How about spending a weekend immersed in jungle habitat, not urban canyons, to rejuvenate your own spirit?

Highland getaways offer escape from high temperatures, torrid sun and the din of urban living. Rising elevations also change forest habitats as trees grow less tall, canopy cover reduces and sunlight reaches the ground. Clouds linger over hilltops only to be stripped of their water by moist leaves.

Many bird species prefer highland forests and most of you will to, once you visit Malaysia's cool climate sanctuaries at Maxwell Hill, Fraser's Hill, and Cameron Highlands.

Jungle rivers roar with enthusiasm and wild abandon. Soaking up all the wet energy after a tropical storm, these rainforest highways get you deep into the wilderness and spit you back out. For a wild time check out whitewater rafting and kayaking trips.

These rough forest rivers eventually settle down and offer great jungle waterfalls on many of the nature trails. Some are safe enough for kids to swim (FRIM, Selangor Park, Kanching Forest and Fraser's Hill); while others are better left to watch (Laila Sari, Cameron Highlands).

An adventure hike is as simple as taking a walk for exercise in the forest. Getting outdoors allows you to notice the special things that make up Mother Nature: forest fungi, native palms, Rafflesia flowers, free hanging lianas, pitcher plants and other surprises.

The diversity of plant life evolved in tropical rainforests for over 70 million years, so take it easy and explore the nooks and crannies of the jungle for all its glory.

Make a collection of tropical rainforest pictures to identify at home with your kids.

Life in a tropical rainforest is demanding. Plants adapt to survive the competition in different ways. Large, towering timber trees form buttress roots at the base of trunks to help support its enormous size, especially on hill slopes.

A rainforest comprises different sized trees that make up the tall forest canopy and shorter trees underneath. Setting fruit on lower parts of the trunk enables insects to pollinate flowers and certain animals to reach fruit and spread seeds on the forest floor.

Famous for allowing Tarzan to sway in the jungle, lianas start on the ground, crawl over trees and seek the forest canopy for more sunlight. These jungle vines bind trees together so if one dies it remains upright until falling in decay, to maximize sun exposure.

Find out more about these gnarled and light-seeking jungle specialists at rainforest plants.

Cell phones ringing, email to answer, receiving text messages, going to office meetings, reports to write, picking up kids from school, how do we cope with this lifestyle?

Getting outdoors at least allows you to breathe. Take advantage of the easy-to-reach nature escapes surrounding Kuala Lumpur that offer relaxation and less frenzy. Kids also suffer stress, so forget the movies and Playstation for once, and take a jungle break this weekend for a natural alternative.

Next Gallery: Reptiles of the Rainforest I