Tropical Tree Roots Seem Enchanted

Tropical Tree Roots

There's something quite magical about trees in the tropics. My first experience of these Herculean examples of vegetation was in Australia, where the tree roots of some trees hung vertically from the branch forming solid ladders into the ground. Although I'd seen books and films with such features, in the flesh they seemed bewitched, enchanted. Like flesh, great muscular, entwined forms which looked like powerful, writhing creatures. It made me think how ordinary the nature back home in boring old England is. Which was a mistake. Just that I had got used to the similarity between organisms sharing a similar climate. Seasonal, damp and never too hot or too cold. Not for long anyway.

Thailand - Khao Sok National Park

There was a lot to see in South Thailand on the Andaman Coast. The lush forest was full of the most amazing plant life which seemed to carpet the entire landscape in rich greens. It was very beautiful. I took a kayak trip through the park and along the banks of the river we saw snakes sleeping in trees, Egrets fishing like statues and shoals of fish, so plentiful there was more fish than water. The tree roots caught my attention.

Erosion

In the dry season, (which it was) the water was low and you could see the way the trees had adapted to cling on as the soil erosion exposed roots which went deep into the ground in all directions.. Living next to a river bank is a mixed blessing. No risk of drying out but possibly washed away. There were certainly many dead trees and branches. Often piled up and caught in huge interlocked deposits at bends in the river.

On the Island of Koh Tai-Chai

Now closed to tourists for fear of humans ruining it's beautiful nature. I was lucky to snorkel briefly in it's azure waters and mingle with the land crabs, watch Sharks hunting in the shallows and walk along it's fine coral sand beach. There were vines which had completely enveloped the trunks of trees and wrapped them in a lethal embrace. Again it seemed more animal than plant in it's power and apparent movement. There's a timelapse for David Attenborough's team to capture.

Epping Forest

When I got home, I was in Epping Forest near London and I noticed the Beech trees which often grow many trunks out of one base had a similar quality of looking like flesh. Strong and elegant, like elephants legs, or how I imagine Dinosaur limbs might have looked. Powerful, epic and flexible with great weight. Almost anything is interesting if you look at it long enough my Dad once said. He is an artist and spends a lot of time looking at everything. I use my camera to capture directly the things that interest me. He was right. If you look at anything with the open curiosity of a child, almost everything is fascinating. Especially when you start getting microscope, macro lenses and telescopes involved.

all photography copyright Christos Hatjoullis (@outerground)