Woody vines that climb trees are known as “lianas”, a term more commonly used in the tropics, where these vines are more prevalent. Lianas compete with trees both above ground -- for light -- and below ground, in the root zone. In gaps in a forest, where light intensity is high, the competition between lianas and trees may be intense both above and below ground, and the lianas often win, forming a “liana tangle.” Shown here is a tangle of Asian Wisteria (probably Chinese Wisteria, Wisteria sinensis) that has overtaken a light gap. Such a tangle can suppress the ability of trees to regrow in the light gap. Lianas can also harm a tree by increasing the weight and stress on the tree as the liana spreads in the crown. More weight means a greater likelihood that the tree will topple in a wind or ice storm, opening up a new light gap in which the liana can start the cycle again by growing rapidly and suppressing tree regeneration. (The Asian Wisteria just reaching the top of the Red Maple (Acer rubrum) shown here is poised to add significant weight to this crown; the Wintercreeper Euonymus (Euonymus fortunei) that completely covers the trunk of the large tree on which it is growing poses a similar threat.) Non-natives are not the only culprits in this cycle. Native lianas can cause damage, too, but the proliferation of non-native invasive lianas in recent decades has added greatly to the problem, and liana growth is expected to accelerate in a warming climate. Read more here: arboretum.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014-72-1-seeing-the-lianas-in-the-trees-woody-vines-of-the-temperate-zone.pdf
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 12:12:19 +0000
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