Climbing aroids grow through the forest, and demonstrate changes in their shoot developmental patterns associated with the changes in microhabitat resulting from displacement of the apex. Through allometric development or metamorphosis, shoots are able to shift growth forms: by altering their mobility, meristems of climbing species may disperse from their site of germination on the ground to their site of maturation on tree trunks, and then become sessile. Some species have the ability to become mobile again should environmental conditions change (...)