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We've carefully curated our Play Town products. Here are additional resources to learn more.
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
WHAT IS A FOREST?
A Forest is a large area of land dominated by trees and undergrowth.
3 Different Types of Forest
Tropical
Temperate
Boreal
Tropical Forests have tall big trees, warm weather and lots of rain. You can find them in Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Western India, the island of New Guinea, and Australia.
Temperate Forests are located in regions of the world where it's not extremely hot or cold. You can find them in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southern Chile, Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand.
Boreal Forest also known as Taiga or snow forest cover much of Canada, Alaska, Europe, Russia, Northern Kazakhstan. Northern Japan and Northern Mongolia.
Here's some of the evergreen trees you can find in a forest & their uses.
Pine Trees are usually grown and harvested for Christmas Trees.
Cypress Trees are free from insects or disease and can withstand high winds and ice storms.
Spruce Tree wood is used for sounding boards in pianos and the bodies of violins, as well as for boats and airplanes.
Cedar Trees are an excellent windbreaks, which helps protect other trees from the wind and can also block snow.
Fir Trees most important use is for production of pulp for the manufacturing of paper.
SPHAGNUM MOSS
(Isocladus)
It can hold up to twenty times it's weight in water.
Sphagnum moss occurs mainly in the Northern Hemisphere in peat bogs, conifer forests, and moist tundra areas. In the Southern Hemisphere, the largest peat areas are in southern Chile, Argentina, New Zealand and Tasmania.
5 Fun Facts About Sphagnum Moss
Historically, it was used as bandages to prevent blood loss.
Moss grows so tightly that it forms a kind of cushion, called a "bog mat", that floats on top of the water; the mat is very strong. A bog mat can support the weight of several large moose.
Sphagnum likes acidic (low pH) soil, which makes it antibacterial and antimicrobial.
The Chippewa Indians, one of the largest groups of native American people, used Sphagnum moss as an absorbent, for pillows, mattresses, furniture stuffing, and as an insulator to keep milk either cool or warm.
Read more about Sphagnum Moss -https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphagnum
Take a hike and visit where these mossome (moss+awesome) plants grow -
https://youtu.be/e58QSA0BOws
(Caesalpinia Sappa)
BROWNI BUTTERFLY BARK
The origin of sappanwood is not certain, but it is thought to be in the region from central and southern India through Burma, Thailand, Indo-China and Southern China to Peninsular Malaysia.
It is cultivated and naturalized in many parts of Malesia (Indonesia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea) and also in India, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Solomon Islands, and Hawaii.
5 Fun Facts About The Sappan Tree
Freshly cut sappanwood is light orange in color and deepens to dark red upon prolonged exposure to sunlight and/or air. Boiling intensifies the color of the dye.
The wood of sappanwood was a major source of a red dye up to the end of the 19th Century.
Sappanwood is used as medicine in India, Indonesia and the Philippines. The plant has antibacterial and anticoagulant properties.
In the Philippines, the wood is a primary source of firewood. It is also made into small handicrafts, violin bows, and wooden nails.
The heart of the wood can help with anti thirst, blood purifying, anti- diabetic & complexion enhancing.
Read more about Sappan Trees -
https://uses.plantnet-project.org/en/Caesalpinia_sappan_(PROSEA)
Take a hike and visit where these evergreen trees grow -
https://youtu.be/W4_X73FJYm0
SEQUOIA PINE CONES
(Sequoiadendron Giganteum)
Giant sequoias occur naturally in only one place on Earth—the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, on moist, unglaciated ridges and valleys at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,400 meters (5,000 to 8,000 ft) above mean sea level.
5 Fun Facts About The Sequoia Tree
Giant sequoia is the largest species on the planet. It belongs to the family Cupressaceae.
They can live up to 3,000 years. Giant sequoias are the third longest-living tree species.
They have the thickest bark on Earth, at up to 3 feet thick!
One sequoia tree can have as many as 11,000
cones. Each cone produces around 230 seeds. Giant sequoia release 300.000 to 400.000 seeds annually.
Giant sequoia depends on forest fire to regenerate. It clears the ground from competing plants, facilitates opening of the cones (and release of seeds) and enriches the ground with minerals required for the growth of new seedlings.
Read more about Sequoia Trees -
https://www.tentree.com/blogs/posts/15-incredible-facts-about-giant-sequoia-trees
Take a hike and visit where these giant trees grow -
https://youtu.be/yhKvTw8qERQ
