How Trees Avoid and Shed Lianas

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Liana (woody vine) loads on 20 trees (dbh [diameter breast height] > 20 cm) were determined for each of 24 spp. on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Three species were consistently free of lianas. Trees of predominantly liana-free species were more flexible and had longer leaves than trees of species that more often carried lianas. It is suggested that because lianas are likely to slow host-tree growth rates and may increase tree mortality rates, characteristics that help trees to shed or avoid lianas are advantageous in liana-rich forests.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: