also: けんしゅ
noun
tendril
Botanical term for the slender, coiling organ of climbing plants, such as those of peas or grapevines.
エンドウの巻きひげが支柱に絡みついている。
The pea tendrils are twining around the stake.
ブドウの巻きひげはとても繊細だ。
Grape tendrils are very delicate.
Sino-Japanese reading of the abbreviated kanji form; mainly a dictionary or technical term.
つる refers to the entire vine or runner of a plant, while 巻きひげ specifically denotes the thin, curling tendril used for climbing.
Compound of 巻き (maki, 'winding') + ひげ (hige, 'beard' or 'whisker'), from the resemblance of tendrils to curled hairs.