understorey

The animals 'browsing is causing major changes in the structure of woodland vegetation, especially of the "understorey" of shrubs and bushes, which is, in effect, being eaten to bits.

EcoEarth.Info Environment RSS Newsfeed Independent UK 2010

The massive pines in front of me, some perhaps over 400 years old, had an understorey of rowan and birch.

Country diary: Glen Strathfarrar Ray Collier 2010

The total darkness, which has been broken only by the crazy dance of the fireflies, is fading and now shapes are forming – branches, fronds, vines, bushes, leaves, thorns, the soaring reach of the canopy, the matted tangle of the understorey.

The last stand of the Amazon 2011

As shade works its way into the understorey of the canopy, the shadows will be illuminated for a week or so, and then the cow parsley is gone; by July it will be nothing more than sticks and the patter of seed falling when you rattle the papery stems.

Jolly brollies 2010

Palms exist in both canopy and understorey of all types of forest, the predominant palms in non-flooded areas being Mauritia miriti and M. carana.

Jaú National Park, Brazil 2008

Although rainfall is low, the bare rock surfaces of the massifs and plateaux concentrate run-off into wadis and temporary pans, which are relatively well wooded oases, even having gallery woodland with understorey.

Aïr and Ténéré Natural Reserves, Niger 2008

Pinelands are dominated by slash pine Pinus elliotti var. densa and contain a large number of the endemics among the shrub and herbaceous species of the understorey.

Everglades National Park, United States 2009

In the cloud forest between 2,700 m and 3,200 m the bamboo Fargesia nitida, an important food for giant pandas, dominates the understorey and between 2,700 m and 3,800 m there are 15 species of rhododendron.

Jiuzhaigou Valley Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China 2009

Tree ferns and palms such as Geonoma appuniana and Euterpe caatinga grow well and Bromeliaceae and Eriocaulaceae grow in the understorey (Castillo, 2005; Sears, 2001b).

Canaima National Park, Venezuela 2009

Owing to the openness of the canopy and the varying effects of fire, the understorey is diverse and varies with soil type.

Greater Blue Mountains Area, Australia 2009