forest floors
Beneath the canopy
The forest floor is the ground layer of a woodland ecosystem—the surface of soil, fallen leaves, decaying wood, and undergrowth beneath the tree canopy.
It teems with fungi, insects, and decomposers that break down organic matter.
Mushrooms pushed up through the forest floor after the rain.
The plural typically appears in ecological or scientific contexts discussing multiple woodland environments.
- leaf litterDecomposing ground debris
- fallen leavesDropped deciduous foliage
- dappled lightSpotted sunbeams through gaps
- soilGround matter for planting
- detritusLoose waste from decay
microorganisms · millipedes · earthworms · insects · humus · decomposition · beetles · mushrooms · spongy · fungal networks · salamanders · lichens · rotting logs · dead wood · leaf mold · moss · springtails · spiders
forest floorsforest canopy
Upper woodland leaf layer
canopy · treetops · emergent layer · tree crowns · overstory
forest floorsbare rock
Exposed stone surface
ice sheets · sand dunes · concrete · tundra · ocean floors