| Climbing plants differ from self-supporting plants, such as shrubs and trees, in a range of characteristics, most notable are the mechanical properties of the stem. Liana stems as Pereskia aculeata Mill. (Cactaceae), Pisonia aculeata L. (Nyctaginaceae), Arrabidaea mutabilis Bureau et K.Schum. (Bignoniaceae), Dalechampia stipulacea Müll.Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) and Dicella nucifera Chodat (Malpighiaceae) were collected in Brazilian forest remnants. The objective of this paper is: a) to analyze the comparative stem structure of these species; b) to answer the inquiry whether these species present cambial variants or not and to verify the modes of cambial activities, and c) to contribute with the anatomical identification of the liana species, characterizing... |
