Plants in the tropical world

More than 20,000 plants populate the Potsdam Biosphere, including some of the most magnificent specimens from tropical forests. Climbing plants wind their way up the trees and hang in the crowns. Crops bear fruit and blossom: bananas, coconut palms, and the cacao tree. Bromeliads glow like colorful splashes of color against the green of the rainforest.

The Panama hat plant

Panama Hat Plant in the Biosphere Potsdam

The Carludovica palmata belongs to the family of cyclanthaeae and is native to the tropical regions of South and Central America. The plant bears the colloquially used name ‘panama hat plant’ not because it looks alike to a panama hat, but because panama hats are made from the dried leaf fibers.

The screw pine

[Translate to English:] Schraubenbaum in der Biosphäre Potsdam

Originally native to Madagascar, the screw pine (pandanus utilis) is now widely spread in many tropical regions worldwide.

The fibers from the leaves of the screw pine are used in today’s world, e.g. as packaging material. The horizontally striped bark of the screw pine is said to have inspired Leonardo Da Vinci to invent the double helix spiral stairs.

This is one example that shows how nature is a model for many inventions of men.

Coffee Tree

[Translate to English:] Kaffeestrauch in der Biosphäre Potsdam — [Translate to English:] Foto: Tina Merkau

Coffee is probably one of the most popular hot drinks, especially in the morning. In the Biosphäre Potsdam you can take a closer look at the evergreen plant “Coffea”, which supplies the popular coffee beans. Usually after 3 to 4 years white flowers appear, where unripe green fruits develope. The ripe fruits are due to their color and shape similar to small cherries. Unlike cherries, however, coffee berries have less pulp and contain two seeds per fruit. The genus “Coffea” includes several species, of which only “Coffea arbica” is used to harvest coffee beans.

Banana

[Translate to English:] Bananenpflanze und Bananenblüte in der Biosphäre Potsdam — [Translate to English:] Foto: Tina Merkau

Bananas (Musa) are evergreen herbaceous plants. Although its trunk looks solid, it is not woody but consists of several dense layers of leaves. The fruits grow in so-called bunches on the banana trees. Each bunch consists of several hands. Individual fruits are called "fingers". The banana as a fruit is a hybrid species that is a mixture of different species of the genus “Musa”. Unfortunately, because of banana plantations, large parts of the tropical rainforest were cut down.

Vanilla

[Translate to English:] Vanille in der Biosphäre Potsdam

The vanilla (vanilla planifolia) is the only kind of orchid that is cultivated as a crop plant by men. Aside from cocoa and pepper, vanilla was the third important ingredient in the Aztecan drink of the gods ‘Xocolatl’.

In the 16th century Spanish conquistadores brought the plant to Europe. Today vanilla is one of the most expensive spices and is used mostly for sweet dishes.