Huge Strangling fig in Tioman

Huge Strangling fig
Originally uploaded by _Cheng Puay.

This was taken along the Tekek Juara trail. One can see the roots snaking down from the fig tree nestled amongst the branches at the top of the host tree. Perhaps in 10 years time, more roots would have descended to the ground, anchor themselves and begin to thicken. The poor host tree in the center would have no more space to grow in width. Its xylem and phloem vessels will be slowly crushed in both directions... by itself when it grows in girth and by the expanding roots engulfing it. Really amazing when one considers the original fig plant was a small seed desposited by a bird amongst the host tree's branches.