Lianas (woody vines) are iconic symbols of tropical forests around the
world. These plants use the energetically expensive investment of trees
in woody stems to gain relatively inexpensive access to the light-rich
canopy. Lianas contribute significantly to tropical forest diversity
(25-40 percent of species), carbon sequestration, biomass, plant-animal
interactions, and forest gap dynamics. Although they are often
considered pests in commercial forestry, woody climbers are important to
many traditional peoples as medicines, subsistence fibers and non-timber
forest products. Largely due to their inaccessibility, lianas and other
climbers remain among the most poorly documented lifeforms in the
tropics. This book aims to facilitate learning and identification of
woody climbers of the Guianas (Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname) for
specialists and non-specialists by using an image-rich format, common
and scientific names, simplified botanical terminology, and character
icon guides, and by describing ecology and uses. The primary focus of
the guide for identification is upon family and genus recognition, but
identification of common species will be possible in many cases.