Liana, << lee AH nuh, >> is the name for various vines found chiefly in tropical rain forests. Lianas climb on or around the trunks and branches of trees, using the trees for support. They have flexible shoots and grow rapidly.
There are several types of lianas. Some, called scramblers or leaners, have no special structures for support. They lean against trees as they climb. Other lianas, including kudzu, American bittersweet, and some kinds of honeysuckle, twine around trunks and branches. Many lianas have threadlike tendrils that attach tightly to nearby vegetation or other objects. Such lianas include grapevines, greenbrier, and Virginia creeper. Other lianas, such as ivy and vanilla vines, use adventitious roots (roots formed away from the primary root) as a means of attachment. Still other lianas, including certain kinds of bougainvillea, have hooked thorns or prickles for climbing.
