| acacia |
a tree that grows in tropical areas of the world, especially in parts of Africa and Australia. The branches of an acacia spread out very wide and evenly across the top. Sometimes the top of the tree looks almost flat. |
| avocado |
a tropical American fruit shaped like a pear. It has a green or black skin and a yellowish green pulp. |
| balsa |
a tree of tropical America, whose wood is very light in weight. [1/2 definitions] |
| bamboo |
a tropical grass plant that has hard, woody, hollow stalks. Bamboo stalks grow straight and tall, and very quickly. Many kinds of bamboo grow as high as a tree. [1/2 definitions] |
| banana |
a long, curved fruit that has a thick yellow skin. It grows in bunches on a tall tropical plant. |
| begonia |
a tropical plant with bright flowers in many colors. The leaves are often streaked or spotted. |
| Bhutan |
Bhutan is a country in Asia. It is located between China and India. Bhutan is a small country with many very high mountains, but there are also some areas of tropical forest where tigers live. |
| boa constrictor |
a large snake that lives in the tropical areas of Central and South America. Boa constrictors are pale brown with darker marks and are not venomous. They kill their prey by winding around it and squeezing it until it cannot breathe. |
| caiman |
a large reptile that is related to the crocodile and alligator. Caimans live in tropical areas of North and South America. |
| cashew |
a tropical American evergreen tree. A gum used in medicine is obtained from the bark. [1/2 definitions] |
| chili |
the pod of a tropical pepper plant. Chili has a strong, sharp flavor. [1/2 definitions] |
| chili pepper |
the pod of a tropical pepper plant. A chili pepper has a strong, sharp flavor that makes food spicy when it is added to it. |
| cinnamon |
a spice made from the dried bark of a tropical Asian tree. [1/2 definitions] |
| coconut |
a tropical palm tree that bears large seeds that can be eaten; coconut tree; coconut palm. [1/2 definitions] |
| coffee |
a tropical plant that produces beans. These beans are used to make a dark brown drink. [1/2 definitions] |
| coral |
the hard skeleton of tiny sea animals called corals. Most kinds of corals live in warm tropical oceans, and their thousands of skeletons form reefs and atolls. [1/3 definitions] |
| Costa Rica |
Costa Rica is a country in Central America. It has the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other. Costa Rica has a tropical climate. It is home to many different kinds of animals, such as sloths, monkeys, turtles, and lizards. |
| crocodile |
a large reptile that is found in tropical swamps. It has a thick, tough skin, a long tail, and a long, pointed snout. |
| Cuba |
Cuba is an island country in the Caribbean Sea. It is near Florida in the United States. People in Cuba speak Spanish. Cuba has a tropical climate and beautiful beaches. It also has land for growing things like sugar cane, rice, potatoes, bananas, and corn. It is home to many animals, including the smallest bird in the world, which is a type of hummingbird. |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo |
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a large country in Africa. Two of its neighbors are Angola and the Republic of the Congo. The Congo River flows through the country and along its border. The climate there is tropical, and there is a lot of rain and many thunderstorms. One of the largest rainforests in the world is in this country. The rainforest is home to chimpanzees, gorillas, and many other animals. |
| ebony |
a hard black wood that comes from tropical Asian trees. [1/3 definitions] |