Liana

A liana is a long-stemmed woody vine that climbs trees in tropical forests, using them for support to reach the forest canopy.

Climbing plant: A plant that grows upward by attaching to supports or leaning on other vegetation. Lianas are woody members of this broader growth form.
Forest canopy: The upper layer of a forest formed by the crowns of trees and other plants. Lianas use trees to reach and spread through this high-light layer.
Tree competition: The struggle among trees and other plants for light, water, nutrients, and space. Lianas compete with host trees for light and belowground resources.
Epiphyte: A plant that grows on another plant for physical support without taking nutrients from it. Unlike epiphytes, lianas root in the ground and climb toward the canopy.
Tendril: A slender, coiling plant organ that attaches to nearby supports. Some lianas use tendrils to grip tree trunks and branches.
Forest fragmentation: The division of continuous forest into smaller, isolated patches. Lianas often become more abundant along the exposed edges of fragmented forests.
Forest carbon cycle: The movement and storage of carbon within forests and between forests and the atmosphere. Lianas can reduce tree growth and alter how much carbon forests store.
Hemiepiphyte: A plant that begins life in one growth position and later develops a connection to the ground or canopy. Hemiepiphytes can start in tree crowns, unlike ground-rooted lianas.
Twining plant: A climbing plant whose stem coils around a support as it grows. Twining is one way liana stems ascend trees.
Forest restoration: The process of aiding the recovery of degraded or cleared forests. Managing lianas can help planted trees grow during restoration.

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