A tropical rain forest is really three different worlds, all stacked one on top of another. The first layer is the dim forest floor, which is sheltered from light by the thick leaf canopy above.
There is also very little wind, even in the most violent rainstorms, thanks to the leafy upper branches. Not many plants grow on the forest floor, because there is so little light. Apart from all the tree trunks, the floor is relatively clear.
The second layer of the forest is the understory, which is also dim and humid. It’s full of bushes, shrubs, vines, and small trees, some of which will grow taller and become part of the third layer.
The third layer, or canopy, is made of the tops of very tall trees, which may reach a height of 150 feet. Their slender trunks branch out into leafy crowns, always seeking sunlight. Some canopy trees, called emergents, may grow to 200 feet.