The Strangler Fig
Ariel Roots
What is a Strangler Fig?
This tree is called a strangler because of its living style. In order for the fig to survive
it competes against other tree for sunlight and nutrients by wrapping its Ariel roots
around the victim slowly suffocating and taking its nutrients.
Ariel Roots
Ariel roots are the roots that wrap around a "host" tree. The strangler fig tree has 4 stages in its life; Epiphyte, primary hemi-epiphyte, strangler and lastly; tree.
Epiphyte (definition in glossary)
The seed of the Fig starts life as an Epiphyte which is produced and eaten the tree tops by birds and monkeys.
The seeds inside of the fig fruit are pollinated by wasps that squeeze their way in the fruit to lay eggs, but after laying the eggs, they lose their wings and die. The figs are later consumed by many animals such as bats, and birds. These animals then spread their feces on branches and notches of tall host-trees that usually reach higher then the Strangler fig.
Ariel roots are the roots that wrap around a "host" tree. The strangler fig tree has 4 stages in its life; Epiphyte, primary hemi-epiphyte, strangler and lastly; tree.
Epiphyte (definition in glossary)
The seed of the Fig starts life as an Epiphyte which is produced and eaten the tree tops by birds and monkeys.
The seeds inside of the fig fruit are pollinated by wasps that squeeze their way in the fruit to lay eggs, but after laying the eggs, they lose their wings and die. The figs are later consumed by many animals such as bats, and birds. These animals then spread their feces on branches and notches of tall host-trees that usually reach higher then the Strangler fig.
Primary Hemi-epiphyte (definition in glossary)
During the second stage (Primary Hemi-epiphyte) the Epiphyte slowly grows roots coming down towards the ground. These roots are also known as Ariel roots They grow towards the ground in search for better resources for water and nutrients, and this action is what creates the second stage for the roots; the Primary Hemi-epiphyte. The roots depend on the host to stay up right. The roots grow at a rate of about 5 meters per year. It takes about 4-5 years for the Ariel roots to grow all the way down to the ground; this varies on the height of the tree. Before the roots enter the soil each root breaks up into several smaller roots to cover more surface area of the tree, and to receive more nutrients. Ariel roots can detect the difference between the ground and themselves . Some scientists believe that this detection is caused by the minerals contained in the Ariel roots such as sap, and water which triggers magnetism.
During the second stage (Primary Hemi-epiphyte) the Epiphyte slowly grows roots coming down towards the ground. These roots are also known as Ariel roots They grow towards the ground in search for better resources for water and nutrients, and this action is what creates the second stage for the roots; the Primary Hemi-epiphyte. The roots depend on the host to stay up right. The roots grow at a rate of about 5 meters per year. It takes about 4-5 years for the Ariel roots to grow all the way down to the ground; this varies on the height of the tree. Before the roots enter the soil each root breaks up into several smaller roots to cover more surface area of the tree, and to receive more nutrients. Ariel roots can detect the difference between the ground and themselves . Some scientists believe that this detection is caused by the minerals contained in the Ariel roots such as sap, and water which triggers magnetism.
Strangler
During the third stage, the strangling part of the tree becomes visual. The sap flows up and around the Ariel Roots to make them stringer and thicker. The slowly start to meld to one another, and strangle the tree. The process to kill the host tree lasts much longer than the actual growing of the Ariel roots; for example; It can take decades to kill old and large trees, but small and weak trees can die within the season. It's almost impossible to say exactly how much time it will take for a tree to die, but to wrap it up, a healthy tree will take longer to kill than a weak tree, but a tree will definitely not last longer than 200 years. It is not uncommon to find centuries-old strangler figs with empty middles, as the host tree died and rotted away, leaving a little hollow room within the trunk system.This process is what normally kills the "host" tree.
Tree
During the fourth, and last stage, the strangler has become a freestanding tree with newly grown branches, leaves, fruits and also flowers. The strangler fig sprouts out many leaves that grow thicker and wider than the leaves of the host. New branches come out from the top and the tree starts to deprive the host tree of sunlight and nutrients So basically its competing, against the other tree for resources but i has the upper hand. The leaves of the fig are protected from wind, and too much sunlight, and this is because of the waxy texture on the leaves. these figs can grow up to 50m long. The strangling is the leading step to taking out the tree, but depriving the tree of is nutrients and sun, is what finishes off the tree. The work of the Ariel roots forming around the tree make a strong and stable truck for the tree to stand on its own. Once the tree decays and disappears there is a hollow space behind the the roots of the tree much like a long room with no openings. The fig then turns into a host for other Epiphytes.
During the fourth, and last stage, the strangler has become a freestanding tree with newly grown branches, leaves, fruits and also flowers. The strangler fig sprouts out many leaves that grow thicker and wider than the leaves of the host. New branches come out from the top and the tree starts to deprive the host tree of sunlight and nutrients So basically its competing, against the other tree for resources but i has the upper hand. The leaves of the fig are protected from wind, and too much sunlight, and this is because of the waxy texture on the leaves. these figs can grow up to 50m long. The strangling is the leading step to taking out the tree, but depriving the tree of is nutrients and sun, is what finishes off the tree. The work of the Ariel roots forming around the tree make a strong and stable truck for the tree to stand on its own. Once the tree decays and disappears there is a hollow space behind the the roots of the tree much like a long room with no openings. The fig then turns into a host for other Epiphytes.