Plant life in the floodplain with special reference to herbaceous plants

In the Amazon floodplain, four major plant communities can be distinguished: algae (phytoplankton and periphyton), aquatic herbaceous plants, terrestrial herbaceous plants, and the floodplain forest. According to their specific requirements, these plant communities occupy different habitats. The distribution of the vegetation is influenced by several factors. The most important ones are: - The duration of the aquatic and terrestrial phases. - The physical stability of the habitat influenced by sedimentation and erosion processes, current and wave action. - Successional processes, related to the life span of the plants and the age of the habitat. - Human impact