A botanical question

[burntfacedjake]

Hi

A little while ago I am sure I came across the scientific term to describe the process by which plants climb by attaching tendrils to other objects. Unfortunately I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it. If anyone can enlighten me on this or any scientific terms for the processes by which plants climb (aerial roots, thorns, etc) I would be very, very grateful. Thanks in advance.

[loripo]

If you take Ivy as an example it is said to have adventitious, clinging roots - might that be the term you're looking for?

[burntfacedjake]

That does ring a bell -thanks! I think adventitious refers to something being out of place so in Ivy with an aerial root I assume that describes the location of the root. Do you know if it's the same term for plants that climb with tendrils such as bindweed or sweet peas?

I've just found the word I was looking for - thigmotropism! Thanks Loripo for your earlier reply.

[Teal]

The following is from Dictionary of Biology:

Thigmotropism
A movement toward or away from a touch stimulus on the part of a portion of an organism, such as leaves or tendrils.

Compare: thigmotaxis.
Origin: g. Thigma, touch, _ trope, a turning A growth response in plants, where the plant usually shows a positive effect to contact and grows towards it, hence the success of ivy growing on walls.

[loripo]

Thanks - tropism I know of, but not the prefix. I saw the BBC Life program on plants last night with some good examples of the different methods plamts use to climb.