Strangler fig
Strangler fig is the common name for a number of tropical and subtropical plant species, including some banyans and unrelated vines, including among many other species:
Ficus altissima
Ficus aurea, also known as the Florida strangler fig
Ficus barbata, also known as the bearded fig
Ficus benghalensis
Ficus burtt-davyi
Ficus citrifolia
Ficus craterostoma
Ficus tinctoria
Ficus macrophylla
Ficus obliqua
Ficus virens
Ficus watkinsiana
These all share a common "strangling" growth habit that is found in many tropical forest species, particularly of the genus Ficus. This growth habit is an adaptation for growing in dark forests where the competition for light is intense. These plants begin life as hemiepiphytes, when their seeds, often bird-dispersed, germinate in crevices atop other trees. These seedlings grow their roots downward and envelop the host tree while also growing upward to reach into the sunlight zone above the canopy.
Thank you Terry! Is it a single tree or a system of trees? It seems that there are many trees making this structure.
That is a good question. I always assume they are individual trees. Here is a picture of another on the way up.
Oh no! I made a mistake. Instead of writing left, I wrote top right which is creating confusion. I was saying about this one..
That's a good question. These is essentially a Vine so I guess they are one organism (maybe there is a botanist that can comment).
That may be some kind of parasitic plant around the tree. Thank you.
This is about all I could find https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strangler_fig
Strangler fig
Strangler fig is the common name for a number of tropical and subtropical plant species, including some banyans and unrelated vines, including among many other species:
Ficus altissima
Ficus aurea, also known as the Florida strangler fig
Ficus barbata, also known as the bearded fig
Ficus benghalensis
Ficus burtt-davyi
Ficus citrifolia
Ficus craterostoma
Ficus tinctoria
Ficus macrophylla
Ficus obliqua
Ficus virens
Ficus watkinsiana
These all share a common "strangling" growth habit that is found in many tropical forest species, particularly of the genus Ficus. This growth habit is an adaptation for growing in dark forests where the competition for light is intense. These plants begin life as hemiepiphytes, when their seeds, often bird-dispersed, germinate in crevices atop other trees. These seedlings grow their roots downward and envelop the host tree while also growing upward to reach into the sunlight zone above the canopy.
Oh this is really amazing! Thank you for this information.