The Biology of Vines

About this book

The climbing habit in plants has apparently evolved numerous times. Species that climb are well represented in habitats ranging from tropical rain forests through temperate forests to semi-deserts.

The Biology of Vines is a treatment of what is known about climbing plants, written by a group of experts and covering topics ranging from the biomechanics of twining to silvicultural methods for controlling vine infestations. Also included are detailed accounts of climbing plant evolution, stem anatomy and function, climbing mechanics, carbon and water relations, reproductive ecology, the role of vines in forest communities and their economic importance.

The chapters are based on research on herbaceous vines and woody climbers (lianas) in both temperate and tropical zones, deserts and rain-forests and Old and New World areas. Much remains to be learned about the biology of these plants, but this volume provides a substantial foundation upon which further research can be based.

First published in 1991.

Contents

Preface; Part I. Introduction: 1. The distribution and evolution of climbing plants Alwyn H. Gentry; Part II. Climbing Mechanics and Stem Form: 2. Anatomy of vine and liana stems: a review and synthesis Sherwin Carlquist; 3. Biochemical studies of vines Francise Putz and Frank W. Ewers; Part III. Vine Physiology and Development: 5. Water flux and xylem structure in vines Frank W. Ewers, Jack B. Fisher and Klaus Fichtner; 6. Reserve economy of vines Harold A. Mooney and Barbara L. Gartner; 7. Photosynthesis and gas exchange of vines Alejandro E. Castellanos; 8. Heteroblastic development in vines David W. Lee and Jennifer H. Richards; 9. Physiological ecology of mesic, temperature woody vines Alan H. Teramura, Warren G. Gold and Irwin N. Forseth; 10. Secondary compounds in vines with an emphasis on those with defensive functions Mervyn P. Hegarty, Elwyn E. Hegarty and Alwyn H. Gentry; Part IV. Community Ecology of Vines: 11. Distribution and abundance of vines in forest communities Elwyn E. Hegarty and Guy Caball

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