Hi, Am reproducing here some of my previous correspondence on this : 25th July 2008 Hi, Most Fig trees belong to a group called Primary Hemiepiphytes. A Parasite taps into the vascular system of the host plant for water and nutrients. An Epiphyte only takes support on the host tree while drawing water and nutrients from wherever they can get them. A Hemiepiphyte, by definition, switches survival strategy over its lifetime. A Primary Hemiepiphyte such as a Fig tree begins life as a canopy epiphyte. After a few years having accumulated sufficient reserves, it sends a root abruptly down to earth. Once a connection has been established the plant can now reach a huge size by sending down more roots. In ‘Strangler Figs’ the roots remain plastered against the trunk of the host tree and may coalesce to form a cramped basket around the trunk ultimately crushing it to death. The tree corpse then rots and falls away and the strangler then continues to grow as a regular tree. In Secondary Hemiepiphytes such as Philodendrons and Monstera- they start at ground level as vines and then work their way up into the canopy. Eventually the vine’s terrestrial roots become superfluous and its stem dies at the tree base and the plant continues its life as an epiphyte. With regards, Neil Soares. April 2008. Hi Mr Garg, Sibdas and Dr. Barve, In the tropical rain forests, strangler figs start their lives as epiphytes in the canopy approximately 200 feet above the ground. [Our specimens in the Indian sub-continent are dwarfed by their tropical counterparts.] Once it has established itself it sends a root abruptly down to earth. Soon more roots are sent down the trunk of the support tree, plastered against its trunk. In extreme forms of stranglers the roots coalesce to form a cramped basket around the tree trunk. Then as the tree attempts to grow they crush it to death. The strangler also affects the support tree by overshadowing it with its dense foliage thereby interfering with its photosynthesis and competing with its roots for nutrients and water. The strangler fig impedes expansion of the tree which is absolutely necessary for the trees survival as in the trunk new vessels must periodically replace dying ones. If rings of vessels cannot be added by increasing trunk girth, nutrients and water cease to flow. This is why strangler figs seldom kill palm trees as palms have thick, hard barks and do not need to grow in diameter to replace their vessels. The Pipal tree seems especially malicious. Starting as an epiphyte, it drives roots into the host, literally tearing it apart. The tree corpse, cradled in the arms of its slayer then rots and falls away. At my farm at Shahapur [near Bombay], I have an old Banyan tree that started life as a strangler as evidenced by the void left behind where the supporting tree once stood. [Have not been able to establish the identity of the original tree though]. Am sending a few photographs as attachments. With regards, Neil Soares.
--- On Fri, 4/20/12, surajit koley <surajitnotavaila...@gmail.com> wrote: From: surajit koley <surajitnotavaila...@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [efloraofindia:114018] Quiz : which Ficus is this? from Hooghly To: "Neil Soares" <drneilsoa...@yahoo.com> Cc: indiantreepix@googlegroups.com Date: Friday, April 20, 2012, 11:26 PM Thank you Sir for the info... an interesting short discussion here - http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/57823/ Regards, Surajit On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 11:11 PM, Neil Soares <drneilsoa...@yahoo.com> wrote: Hi, This is possibly Ficus rumphii and it is not cohabiting but strangling the Wild Date Palm tree. Please refer to my mails on 'Strangler Fig trees' With regards, Neil Soares. --- On Fri, 4/20/12, surajit koley <surajitnotavaila...@gmail.com> wrote: From: surajit koley <surajitnotavaila...@gmail.com> Subject: [efloraofindia:114018] Quiz : which Ficus is this? from Hooghly To: indiantreepix@googlegroups.com Date: Friday, April 20, 2012, 10:59 PM Sir, I have exhausted my daily quota.... that's why this quiz! Species : Likely to be Ficus infectoria Roxb. Habit & Habitat : tree, wild, cohabiting Phoenix sp. Date : 20-04-12, 3.40 p.m. & 14-02-12, 4.20 p.m. Place : Hooghly, WB (the trunk in the centre is of Anona reticulata, NOT Ficus) two months ago....... Thank you & Regards, Surajit Koley
