Climbers are plants that cling around stronger structures – rocks, soil, trees; buildings – to support their body mass and raise their leaves higher in search of sunlight.
Climbers can either be vines or lianas. Vines are mostly green-stemmed, trailing plants of a short lifespan. Examples would be the passion flower, morning glory, and few cucumber species.
Lianas, on the other hand, are longer-lived, woody varieties. Both these groups are not closely related to each other but come from different families.
As you know, trees form the basic framework of any forest. Trees are defined by their strong trunks, interlocked branches, and outstretched leafy network. Climbers use these natural scaffoldings as support structures to trail heights within and above the canopied roof.
The huge energy required to develop strong, woody trunks is thus saved and reinvested in growing leaves. It is believed that almost 90 per cent of the world’s total climber species find their origin in these rainforests. Indeed, a heaven on Earth for them!
Picture Credit : Google
