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| The compound called salicin comes from the bark of the willow tree and it is the active ingredient of the pain reliever called 'aspirin'. |  |
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Gardens in the Sky: The Plants that Live in the Giant Redwood Forest Canopy
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Maintenance of ancient trees and their forests
Most of the giant redwood forests have been logged. Understanding the ecology of these ancient forests is critical to the success of attempts to protect the remaining remnants of the once mighty northern California forests. Epiphytes are plants that grow on trees without causing them harm. In the redwood forests, these mosses, liverworts and lichens grow in abundance on giant Sitka spruce trees and provide food and shelter for other plants and animals, as well as contributing to forest nutrient cycles. Expert biologists from Humboldt State University, U.S.A., have been climbing these giant spruce trees, often reaching heights of 305 feet (90 meters), to investigate the plant communities occupying the forest canopy. The results from this research will help to determine the ecological requirements of these forests and assist in a conservation plan for their protection.
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