The temperate rainforest biome is famous for its green forest at middle and high latitudes, growing along narrow margins of the Pacific Northwest in North America. This biome differs from the equatorial and tropical rainforest in the sense that here only a few species of trees dominate.
The rainforest of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State has a mixture of broadleaf and needle leaf trees, huge ferns and thick undergrowth. In fact, it is the maritime influence that is responsible for producing this moist, lush forest community.
The characteristic feature of this biome is that the tallest trees in the world ranging in height from 60 to 90 m are found here. Douglas, fir, spruce, cedar and hemlock are the dominant species here.
It is noteworthy that leaf-fall in these biomes is related to the seasonal drop in temperature. The temperature change and associated lack of food also affect organisms higher up the food web. Some birds migrate to warmer countries.
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Temperate forests on different continents have similar growth forms, but contain different species.