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| − | :''This article is about a kind of plant growth form. For other uses of liana, see [[liana (disambiguation)]]''.
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| | [[Image:LianaIndia.jpg|thumb|Liana tangle across a forest in the [[Western Ghats]].]] | | [[Image:LianaIndia.jpg|thumb|Liana tangle across a forest in the [[Western Ghats]].]] |
| | [[Image:LianaSwing.jpg|thumb|Woman swinging on a liana in [[Aokigahara]] forest, [[Japan]]]] | | [[Image:LianaSwing.jpg|thumb|Woman swinging on a liana in [[Aokigahara]] forest, [[Japan]]]] |
| | + | A [[woody]] [[twining]] or [[climbing]] plant entangling a [[tropical]] [[forest]].{{SCH}} |
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| − | A '''liana''' is a woody climber <ref>{{cite web |url=http://glossary.gardenweb.com/glossary/nph-ind.cgi?scrug=16677&k=liana&b=and&r=whole&s=terms |title=Definition of the term liana |accessdate=2007-07-29 |work=GardenWeb Glossary of Botanical Terms}}</ref> that starts at ground level, and uses trees to climb up to the [[canopy (forest)|canopy]] where it spreads from tree to tree to get as much light as possible. Lianas are especially characteristic of tropical moist deciduous forests and rainforests. These climbers often form bridges between the forest canopy, connect the entire forest and provide [[arboreal|arboreal animals]] with paths across the forest. There are also temperate lianas, however, for example the members of the genus ''[[Clematis]]''. Well-known lianas include Monkey Ladder and Water [[Vine]].
| + | {{glossary}} |
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| − | Lianas are useful navigation tools for arboreal species such as [[lemur]]s. For example, in the eastern [[rainforest]]s of [[Madagascar]], many [[prosimian]]s achieve higher mobility from the web of lianas draped amongst the vertical tree species. Some lianas are strong enough to support the weight of a human.
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| − | Note that "liana" is not a [[taxonomy|taxonomic]] grouping, but rather a description of the way the plant grows, and lianas may be found in many different plant [[family (biology)|families]].
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| − | ==References==
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| − | {{Reflist}}
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| − | [[Category:Plant morphology]]
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Latest revision as of 05:32, 10 April 2009
