Leaf litter

Leaf litter is the layer of leaves and other forms of decomposing matter found on the ground of forests and rainforests.

Leaf litter is important to the ecosystem of forests, inhabited by insects, fungi, small mammals and flightless birds. For example, birds such as the cassowary build their nests from the material found on the ground of a rainforest.

Visibly, leaf litter is composed mostly of the leaves that fall from the forest's tall trees and shrubs. However, beneath the leaves lay other decomposing materials such as bark and dead animals. The litter is dirty, covering dirt and mud.