The Biology of Vines

by Francis E. Putz, Harold A. Mooney

Overview

The climbing habit in plants has apparently evolved numerous times. Species that climb are well represented in habitats ranging from tropical rain forests through temperate forests to semi-deserts. The Biology of Vines, first published in 1992, is a treatment of what is known about climbing plants, written by a group of experts and covering topics ranging from the biomechanics of twining to silvicultural methods for controlling vine infestations. Also included are detailed accounts of climbing plant evolution, stem anatomy and function, climbing mechanics, carbon and water relations, reproductive ecology, the role of vines in forest communities and their economic importance. The chapters are based on research on herbaceous vines and woody climbers (lianas) in both temperate and tropical zones, deserts and rain-forests and Old and New World areas. Much remains to be learned about the biology of these plants, but this volume provides a substantial foundation upon which further research can be based.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521107136
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	05/28/2009
Pages:	544
Product dimensions:	6.70(w) x 9.60(h) x 1.20(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Part I. Introduction: 1. The distribution and evolution of climbing plants Alwyn H. Gentry; Part II. Climbing Mechanics and Stem Form: 2. Anatomy of vine and liana stems: a review and synthesis Sherwin Carlquist; 3. Biochemical studies of vines Francise Putz and Frank W. Ewers; 4. Structural responses to stem injury in vines Jack B. Fisher and Frank W. Ewers; Part III. Vine Physiology and Development: 5. Water flux and xylem structure in vines Frank W. Ewers, Jack B. Fisher and Klaus Fichtner; 6. Reserve economy of vines Harold A. Mooney and Barbara L. Gartner; 7. Photosynthesis and gas exchange of vines Alejandro E. Castellanos; 8. Heteroblastic development in vines David W. Lee and Jennifer H. Richards; 9. Physiological ecology of mesic, temperature woody vines Alan H. Teramura, Warren G. Gold and Irwin N. Forseth; 10. Secondary compounds in vines with an emphasis on those with defensive functions Mervyn P. Hegarty, Elwyn E. Hegarty and Alwyn H. Gentry; Part IV. Community Ecology of Vines: 11. Distribution and abundance of vines in forest communities Elwyn E. Hegarty and Guy Caballé; 12. Vines in arid and semi-arid ecosystems Philip W. Rundel and Tamara Franklin; 13. Vine-host interactions E. E. Hegarty; 14. Seasonality of climbers: a review and example from Costa Rican dry forest Paul A. Opler, Herbert G. Baker and Gordon W. Frankie; 15. Breeding and dispersal systems of lianas Alwyn H. Gentry; Part V. Economic Importance of Vines: 16. The ethnobotany and economic botany of tropical vines Oliver Phillips; 17. Biology, utlization, and silvicutural management of rattan palms Stephen F. Siebert; 18. Silvicultural effects of lianas Francis E. Putz; Indices.