| Birmingham Botanical Gardens BASE | |
| the interesting bits |
| Climbers |
|
The climbers are adapted to help them compete for the available sunlight in the rainforest by using the massive trunks of the canopy for support. All climbers are rooted in the soil and reach the tree tops in a variety of ways: by hooks, tendrils, twining or clinging. Aerial roots are also growing from this tendril climber - these grow down until they reach water or ground level and then become extra feeding roots.
Look out for the pitcher plant (Nepenthes) hanging over the pool, another tendril climber. This plant is carnivorous, supplementing its nitrogen supply by trapping common feeding flies and small animals. These are attracted to the plant by its appearance and foul odour. The flies feed on the nectar around the rim and as they crawl downwards they fall away on the slipper smooth wax-coated sides into the liquid at the bottom. Here the flies are slowly digested. Notice each pitcher has a lid to keep out rain. If one is in reach the more gruesome amongst you may wish to look inside for dead insects! |
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A
good example of a twiner is the woody Liana, Aristolochia brasiliensis
(notice the woody stem sticking out from the support post). These climbing
stems twist themselves around and around the branches of the support tree.
Many become woody in time and can grow to be hundreds of metres long,
looping from tree to tree in the canopy.
The
tendril climbers are the most advanced. Looking upwards by the side of
the cultivated banana tree. you will notice a tendril climber (Cissus
gongaloides). Half of the tendril winds in a clockwise and half in
an anti-clockwise coil with a 'spring mechanism' in the centre which provides
a flexible connection between the climber and its support. 
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