B. Melzer, T. Steinbrecher,
R. Seidel, O. Kraft,
R. Schwaiger, T. Speck

6th Plant Biomechanics Conference, Hrsg. B. Thibaut, UMR EcoFoG Campus agronomique - BP 316, Seiten 205-210 (2009)

English Ivy (Hedera helix L.) is a prominent root climber the attachment mechanisms of which are not yet fully understood. This article gives an overview on the methods used in a systematic approach to analyse the functional morphology and the biomechanics of the attachment structures of English Ivy and presents some initial results. Mechanical as well as chemical components make up a four phase attachment mechanism which enables English Ivy to climb on various structured substrates and also on some smooth ones.