Thank you very much Sir, i have read a part of it at - https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!searchin/indiantreepix/Strangler$20Fig$20trees/indiantreepix/bXrwZNB1jEM/P-f0afyJ6KQJ. I understabd that it is an epiphyte.
Regards, surajit On Fri, Apr 20, 2012 at 11:34 PM, Neil Soares <drneilsoa...@yahoo.com>wrote: > 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<http://us.mc339.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=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<http://us.mc339.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=surajitnotavaila...@gmail.com> > >* wrote: > > > From: surajit koley > <surajitnotavaila...@gmail.com<http://us.mc339.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=surajitnotavaila...@gmail.com> > > > Subject: [efloraofindia:114018] Quiz : which Ficus is this? from Hooghly > To: > indiantreepix@googlegroups.com<http://us.mc339.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?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 > > <https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-T4fyna5MKC0/T5GW85JQCPI/AAAAAAAADuU/HcqsrpjMbMg/s1600/DSCN2314.jpg> > (the trunk in the centre is of *Anona* *reticulata*, *NOT* *Ficus*) > > > > > <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-KfbYfk-WXrA/T5GW8kL6eeI/AAAAAAAADuU/XCF1VTCbg_A/s1600/DSCN2316.jpg> > > <https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KEKPnq3IIUo/T5GW-xdPDtI/AAAAAAAADuU/JxJoLJs-0C4/s1600/DSCN2319.jpg> > > > <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-rLPOBdxAxe4/T5GXANhpWVI/AAAAAAAADuU/yLF-iQ3AH4o/s1600/DSCN2320.jpg> > > <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W9fcXk6zFaM/T5GXAqlWBOI/AAAAAAAADuU/bVnj84JUNRU/s1600/DSCN2323.jpg> > > > > > *two months ago.......* > > > > <https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VyHixclfpWk/T5GXC9q8vmI/AAAAAAAADuU/eslfXN521-4/s1600/DSCN8205.jpg> > > > <https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-JZJCBd3smbE/T5GXDq-mrwI/AAAAAAAADuU/HyRRHwMfDY4/s1600/VSCN8222.jpg> > > > Thank you & Regards, > > Surajit Koley > > > >
