Raffi at 07:04, 28 March 2007

2007-03-28T07:04:02Z

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[[Image:Vine.jpg|thumb|A curling tendril]]
A '''vine''' is any plant of [[genus]] [[Vitis]] (the [[grape]] plants) or, by extension, any similar climbing or trailing plant. The word, ultimately derived from [[Latin]] ''vīnea,'' originally referred exclusively to the grape-bearing plant; the modern extended sense is largely restricted to [[North American English]], which then uses ''grapevine'' to refer specifically to the grape-bearing ''Vitis'' species. (Conversely, [[British English]] tends to use ''climber'' to refer to the broader category, including, for example, [[ivy]].)

The remainder of this article uses the term ''vine'' in its broader, North American sense.

== Climbing plants ==
[[Image:Schornstein_Kletterpflanze_Meidling.jpg|thumb|Climbing plant, covering a chimney]]
Certain plants always grow as vines, while a few grow as vines only part of the time. For instance, [[Toxicodendron|poison ivy]] and [[bittersweet]] can grow as low shrubs when support is not available, but will become vines when support is available.

A vine is a growth form based on long, flexible [[Plant stem|stems]]. This has two purposes. A vine may use rock exposures, other plants, or other supports for growth rather than investing energy in a lot of supportive tissue, enabling the plant to reach sunlight with a minimum investment of energy. This has been a highly-successful growth form for plants such as [[kudzu]] and [[Japanese honeysuckle]], both of which are [[invasive exotic]]s in parts of [[North America]]. Conversely, there are some tropical vines that develop [[skototropism]] and grow away from the light, a type of negative [[phototropism]].

The vine growth form may also enable plants to colonize large areas quickly, even without climbing high. This is the case with [[Vinca|periwinkle]] and [[ground ivy]].

A climbing habit has evolved independently in several plant families, using many different climbing methods. Some plants climb by twining their stems around a support (e.g., morning glories, ''[[Ipomoea]]'' species). Others climb by way of adventitious, clinging roots (e.g., ivy, ''[[Hedera]]'' species), with twining petioles (e.g., ''[[Clematis]]'' species), or using [[tendril]]s, which can be specialized shoots ([[Vitaceae]]), leaves ([[Bignoniaceae]]), or even inflorescences (''[[Passiflora]]''). Species of ''[[Parthenocissus]]'' (Vitaceae) produce twining tendrils that are modified stems, but which also produce adhesive pads at the end that attach themselves quite strongly to the support.

Most vines are flowering plants. These may be divided into woody vines or [[liana]]s, such as [[wisteria]], [[kiwifruit]], and [[Hedera|common ivy]], and herbaceous (nonwoody) vines, such as [[morning glory]].

One odd group of vining plants is the fern genus ''Lygodium'', called [[climbing fern]]s. Here, the plant's stem does not climb, but rather the fronds (leaves) do. The fronds unroll from the tip, and theoretically never stop growing. In the meantime, they can form thickets as they unroll over other plants, rockfaces, and fences.

===Climbing plants as Garden plants===
[[Gardener]]s can use the tendency of climbing plants to grow quickly. If a plant display is wanted fast a climber can achieve this. Climbers can be trained over [[wall]]s, [[pergola]]s, [[fence]]s etc. Climbers can be grown up other plants to provide additional attraction. Artificial support can also be provided. Some climbers climb by themselves; others need work, such as tying them in and training them.

Vine - Revision history

Raffi at 07:04, 28 March 2007