Nature Field Guide

Tropical Moist Forest

Explore wildlife, plants and trees. Learn what to look for and where to find them.

3 profiles

Other Plants

Firebush

Firebush is a shrub with clusters of narrow orange to red tubular flowers.

Take a closer look ↗

Other Plants

Scarlet Passionflower

Scarlet passionflower is a climbing vine with vivid red flowers and curling tendrils.

Take a closer look ↗

Trees

Spanish Elm

Laurel is a native tree that can grow tall with a relatively slender trunk.

Take a closer look ↗

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Nature Field Guide

Firebush

Spanish name

Coralillo

Scientific name

Hamelia patens

Other Plants Tropical Moist Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

Identification

Key Features of the Firebush

• Narrow orange-red tubular flowers

• Simple leaves often arranged in whorls

• Small rounded fruits that darken with age

Habitat & range

Clearings, roadsides, forest edges and gardens.

Conservation & care

Observe from paths and leave leaves, bark, flowers and fruits attached. Do not taste wild plants or offer them to pets. Ask a knowledgeable guide to confirm the species.

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Nature Field Guide

Scarlet Passionflower

Spanish name

Pasiflora roja

Scientific name

Passiflora vitifolia

Other Plants Tropical Moist Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the plant’s shapes. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

Identification

Key Features of the Scarlet Passionflower

• Vivid red flowers

• Three-lobed leaves

• Curling tendrils on climbing stems

Habitat & range

Moist forest edges and secondary vegetation.

Conservation & care

Observe from paths and leave leaves, bark, flowers and fruits attached. Do not taste wild plants or offer them to pets. Ask a knowledgeable guide to confirm the species.

View full profile →

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Nature Field Guide

Spanish Elm

Spanish name

Laurel

Scientific name

Cordia alliodora

Trees Tropical Moist Forest

What Do Pico & Tati Think?

Pico wants to sketch the tree’s silhouette. Tati suggests looking for three clues before guessing its name. What would you notice first?

Identification

Key Features of the Spanish Elm

• Clusters of small white flowers

• Simple alternate pointed leaves

• Swollen nodes along smaller branches

Habitat & range

Forest edges and secondary forest in dry to very wet climates.

Conservation & care

Observe from paths and leave leaves, bark, flowers and fruits attached. Do not taste wild plants or offer them to pets. Ask a knowledgeable guide to confirm the species.

View full profile →