A tendril
grasping round a guidewire in a vineyard (in Sicily). Tendrils are fundamental
to the growth habit
of the vine, which is a creeper - one of the freeloaders of the plant world.
Instead of wasting
time producing a trunk that will support it, the vine hitches a ride on
trees, climbing up to heights
that would normally take 50 years to achieve (for a self-supporting plant)
in just a couple of seasons.
The tendrils are thigmotropic - they grow in response to touch, and are modified
flower clusters in origin.
(All photographs are ŠJamie Goode and must not be republished in any form without permission.)