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tendril

A modified leaf, leaflet, branch, or inflorescence of a climbing plant that coils around suitable objects, such as other nearby plants, and helps support and elevate the plant. Examples are the branch tendrils of white bryony (Bryonia dioica), the leaf tendrils of yellow vetchling (Lathyrus aphaca), and the inflorescence tendrils of Virginia creepers (Parthenocissus). The tendrils of some species terminate in disclike suckers while others, e.g. those of grapevines (Vitis), resemble climbing roots in being negatively phototropic and hence growing into dark cracks on the support.

 
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