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The layers of the forest vegetation from top to bottom are
- Emergent layer
- Canopy
- Understorey
- Forest floor
Emergent layer
Canopy
The uppermost branches and leaves of the trees act as a roof over the other plants, as well as the forest ground is called, the canopy.
- Canopy in the forest is a continuous layer of leaves. The branch part of the tree above the stem is known as the crown of the tree.
- The canopy intercepts the available sunlight, and as a result, approximately only less than 50% reaches the forest floor.
- The canopy consists of animals like reptiles, birds, insects, monkeys, etc.
Understorey
The different horizontal layers that are formed due to different types of crowns in the forest is known as understorey.
- Top layer - It constitutes giant and tall trees followed by shrubs and tall grasses.
- Shrub layer - These shrubs and bushes are approximately 1 - 2 meter in height from the forest floor. They form a dense layer at some places of forest where enough sunlight is present.
- Herb layer - We find them below the shrub layer, and is the lowest layer of vegetation in the forest (having leafy plants). Most of the plants in the herb layer have a short lifespan.
Forest floor
Ground surface of the forest is called, the forest floor.
- Plants found in this region are mosses, lichens, and liverworts.
- The animals that inhabit forest floor includes large animals, insects, worms, etc.
- Forest floor is mostly covered with organisms like bacteria, fungi, the dead and decaying plant matter, twigs, and the animal wastes.
- It is dark in color.
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