Strangler Figs - Parasites or Champions?

What created such a perfectly circular hollow inside this tropical fig tree (seen beside or below the article)? Mind you, these are no ordinary figs! These are strangler figs, a group of Ficus species that are characterized by a peculiar growth pattern.

They are a so-called hemiepiphyte, a plant that spends part of its lifetime growing attached to a different organism. Their seeds tend to end up in crevices of its host tree, from where its shoots down its roots to reach for the soil. Once rooted, the roots begin to slowly widen and wrap around the host tree, hindering its growth as they clutch around the trunk. The fig eventually outgrows the crown of the host tree, taking vital sunlight for itself and slowly killing its host, leaving the circular hollow inside its own trunk. It seems that old trees are more vital hosts.

Despite this despicable behaviour, it seems that strangler figs are more than what just meets the eye. They represent a keystone species in their environment, and also in cities, providing habitat to countless numbers of birds, reptiles, bats and invertebrates. Many other species are attracted to the fig tree because of its production of large amounts of good-tasting fig fruits. These are then further spread through the intenstines of the frugivores onto another host tree.

And, actually, for some trees, it seems that having a parasitic strangler fig is beneficial... for some time, at least. A study conducted at the Lemingdton National Park in Queensland, Australia found evidence that strangler figs support their hosts during severe storms. They are then less likely to fall victim to strong winds. The figs may stabilize the host with their aerial roots and thus hinder their movement in the wind and close up canopy gaps with their leaves.

Common name:	Strangler fig
Clade:	Angiospermae
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Moraceae
Genus:	Ficus
Scientific reading: