Chapter IX.— VINES/ 



Many vines growing in the Tropics develop air ro@ts 

 high above the ground from long, clambering, fleshy stem 

 structures. Due to the fact that they attach themselves to 

 tree trunks and cliffs by means of small horizontal roots, 

 an impression often prevails that they are parasites. They 

 are not parasites, however, for their own underground roots 

 and the air roots develop as the plants grow older, making 

 the vines independent of other plants for their food supply. 



Another very characteristic feature of tropical forests and 

 jungles is the long ropelike vines that hang down from 

 trees hindering or obstructing passage through the forest. 

 These vines are often used by the hill people for tying 

 purposes. 



Vines usually rise above the ground by twining around 

 an object or by clutching some support by means of tendrils. 

 An example of a twining industrial vine is pamago and 

 of one with tendrils, the vegetable sponge. 



AIB, ROOTS. 



The air roots of many different species of aroids are now 

 used in Philippine public schools as a foundation for coiled 

 baskets and also, either bleached or unbleached, for the 

 fabrication of various types of baskets. The hill people 

 living in or near dense tropical forests have undoubtedly 

 known air roots and have used them to some extent for 

 tying purposes perhaps for ages, but it has remained for the 

 public schools to prove that they are also suitable for other 

 purposes. 



These air roots were first tried for baskets in the schools 



* A slight deviation will be made here from the alphabetical 

 arrangement followed in other chapters, as it is advisable to group 

 together all plants with air roots. 



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