Liana

Ninety percent of the world's vine species grow in tropical rainforests. Lianas are a type of climbing vine found throughout tropical rainforests. They have thick, woody stems and come in various lengths (up to 3,000 ft) and varying shapes. They begin life on the forest floor but depend on trees for support as they climb upwards towards the sunlight they need for survival. They do this by attaching themselves to trees with sucker roots or tendrils and growing with the young sapling, or they climb by winding themselves round the tree's trunk.

When they reach the top of the canopy they often spread to other trees or wrap themselves around other lianas. This network of vines gives support against strong winds to the shallow-rooted, top-heavy trees. However, when one tree falls several others may be pulled down also. Lianas include rattan palms, philodendron and Strychnos toxifera (from which the deadly poison strychnine is obtained). Rattans, the Asian lianas, have thorny stems and can reach heights of 650 feet (200 m). They are used to make a variety of things including baskets, ropes and wicker furniture. Lianas are thick woody vines that run from the forest floor to  canopy and from tree crown to tree crown. Lianas have their own roots systems, but depend on trees for support. Since they are supported by other plants, lianas can use all of their energy on increasing their size. Some even grow to be 3,000 feet  (900 meters) long. Lianas begin their lives on the forest floor as seeds. Once a vine begins to grow, it starts searching for a tree. When it finds a tree, it begins to climb up the bark of the tree until it encounters light.  Once it reaches light, the vine grows, flowers, and produces fruit, completing the cycle. Unfortunately, at times, lianas connect the surrounding trees too well; when one tree topples, it forces the surrounding trees  to go down with it.