With more than 20,000 species of plants, Ecuador has one of the richest floras in the world. Almost 4,500 are endemic to Ecuador and the Amazon Rainforest is home to many of those species. While walking in the forest you will notice large leaves responding the need of light, huge roots spreading out, bromeliads, orchids, palms, vines and strangler trees proving the incredible power of nature.

Three main types of habitats occur in our moist forest ecoregion:

• Terra firme forest on the high relief, not subject to flooding

• Várzea forest type, subject to seasonal flooding by whitewater rivers.

• Igapó forest type, on poor soils subject to seasonal or permanent flooding by blackwater rivers (no sediment load).

In general these are all tall moist evergreen tropical rain forests, but each habitat consists in a unique combination of plant species that characterize the land. The terra firme forests are more diverse and generally taller with canopies reaching 40 m , and emergent trees to 50 m in height; epiphytes and lianas occur here but are not abundant. Along the rivers, some stands are dominated by palms especially Mauritia flexuosa and swamp forests with a distinct flora form parts of the adjacent upland forests. At Sani you will have the possibility of seeing all this different types of forest and learn about the different species in each habitat.

Some of the most recognizable flora at Sani:
Kapoc - Ceiba Pentandra
Strangler - Ficus Crosslunsaula
Climber Vine - Philodendrom
Ginger - Costus
Ant-associated Melastome
Heliconia - About 70 diferent species