Aerial roots of common ivy, Hedera helix. The picture shows a free stem of common ivy growing inside greenhouse. The pale structures developing from the underside of the stem are aerial roots. In this picture, most of the root tips are dark brown, having dried out in the hostile hot and dry conditions of the surrounding air. Ivy is a vigorous climber, able to scale to the tops of trees, fence and walls. This ability arises from the production of aerial roots such as those here. Growing in an outside environment, these roots seek out crevices in the structure of any surface they enocounter, such as bark, brick or cut timber. They attach to the surface by means of fine hairs, anchoring the stem and so enabling the plant to grow to considerable height. This in turn usually means exposure to higher light levels, allowing the production of flowers and seeds |