- Climbing plants, Atchankulam, Survey
Abstract
Climbing plants are one of the most interesting group but a much neglected group of plants. But, they also play a part in historical importance of our ancient buildings which owe their attraction to the green veil which covers up their architectural or structural defects making them assume perfect beauty in our eyes. The present survey reveals that angiospermic climbers of the study area are represented by 94 species under 63 genera belonging to 32 families. Among all families, Convolvulaceae, Papilionaceae (7 species) and Vitaceae are the most dominating family species as well as genera wise. The dominant families are Convolvulaceae, Papilionaceae, Vitaceae, Apocynaceae, Menispermaceae and Oleaceae. The most abundant liana species include the thorny stragglers Pterolobium hexapetalun (Caesalpiniaceae), Lantana camara (Verbenaceae), and the twiners Jasminum angustifolium (Oleaceae), Gymnena sylvestre (Asclepiadaceae) and Aganosmacymosavar. cymosa (Apocynaceae). The enumerated climbing modes were classified into woody vines, the lianas (75) and herbaceous vines (19). Six climbing modes of lianas were recognized as stem twiners (37) followed by stragglers-unarmed (28), stragglers unarmed (10), tendril climbers (17), root climbers (1) and hook climber (1).