tendrilbearing

Tendril-bearing refers to plants that grow tendrils, slender, curling extensions that help the plant grasp supports. Tendrils are not roots; they are modified organs that typically arise from leaves, leaflets, stipules, petioles, or shoots. By attaching to a structure such as a trellis, vine, or others, tendrils enable climbing and upright growth with less investment in thick, self-supporting stems.

Tendrils vary in form and origin. They may be simple, forked, or branched, and they often coil in response to touch, a phenomenon known as thigmotropism. Some tendrils coil only when they encounter a support, while others coil spontaneously. Their position on the plant can be axillary, opposite a leaf, or derived from leaflets, stipules, or even shoot tips, depending on the species.

Common plant groups with tendrils include several major climbing families. Vitaceae (grapes) produce tendrils opposite the leaf, often bifurcating. Cucurbitaceae (cucumbers, melons, gourds) have tendrils arising from leaf axils and other nearby nodes. Fabaceae (peas, vetches, sweet peas) typically form tendrils from modified leaflets or stipules. In many of these groups, the tendril’s main function is to provide support, allowing the plant to reach light and spread efficiently without developing thick supports.

Ecologically, tendril-bearing species show convergent evolution toward a lightweight climbing strategy. Tendrils enable access to higher light, facilitate rapid vertical growth, and interact with various supports in a range of habitats.