Strangler fig (Ficus sp.) growing around the trunk of another tree. The strangler fig starts growing as an epiphyte (a plant that grows attached to a

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Strangler fig (Ficus sp.) growing around the trunk of another tree. The strangler fig starts growing as an epiphyte (a plant that grows attached to a living plant) in a crevice in a host tree. The roots grow downwards, and fuse, enveloping the host's trunk. When the roots reach the ground it becomes hemiepiphytic and competes with its host for nutrients and water in the soil. Typically the host plant dies. Photographed in Lamington National Park, Queensland, Australia.

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Size: 2409px × 3700px
Photo credit: © THOMAS MARENT/EURELIOS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: australia, australian, biological, biology, botanical, botany, environment, epiphyte, epiphytic, ficus, fig, flora, geography, hemiepiphyte, hemiepiphytic, host, lamington, national, nature, park, plant, queensland, rainforest, root, roots, sp., strangler, tree, trees, trunk