Canopy

The liveliest part of the forest, where tall tree branches come together to form a green roof is the canopy. The trees here are as tall as one hundred thirty-three feet. The canopy provides shelter for wildlife. The highest layer is the top layer. The trees battered by the wind and pounded by the rain must find ways to survive here. The leaves on the trees are small and waxy which helps them to hold water. Otherwise water is lost to the wind and heat. The emergent layer, which is part of the top layer and the tallest layer, is also known as the winged world, because it is home to many winged animals. Winged animals live here because of the height the emergent layer contains with the crowns, or tops of the tallest trees faning out like umbrellas. Some trees grow as tall as an eighteen-story building.