strangler fig
Encircling tropical vine
Strangler figs are tropical trees that begin life as epiphytes, germinating in the branches of a host tree and sending roots down to the ground.
Over time, these roots thicken and fuse around the host trunk, eventually encasing and often killing it—hence the name.
The hollow lattice left behind when the host decays can support the mature fig for centuries.
The strangler fig had completely enveloped the ancient temple walls.
Self-supporting fig tree
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- canopyOverhead protective covering
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- ecosystemInterconnected organisms and surroundings
fruiting · pollination · tropical · forest · understory · endemic · conservation · succession
Self-supporting fig tree
- sacredWorthy of reverence
- templeSacred worship structure
- shrineSacred devotional place
- landmarkNotable point of reference
folklore · spiritual · ancient · Angkor · ruins · heritage · medicinal · ornamental
Non-parasitic botanical hitchhiker
- germinationSeed's initial growth phase
- entwineWind around each other
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
crown · canopy · embrace · wrap · descend · columnar · scaffold · network
One receiving guests
- suffocateKill by blocking air
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
- dominateControl through superior strength
usurp · overtake · supplant · encroachment · mortality · dieback · exploitation · persistence
banyan
Self-supporting fig tree
- rainforestWet tropical woodland ecosystem
- canopyOverhead protective covering
- biodiversityRange of life forms
ecosystem · fruiting · pollination · tropical · forest · understory · endemic · conservation · succession · microhabitat
banyan
Self-supporting fig tree
landmark · folklore · spiritual · ancient · Angkor · ruins · heritage · medicinal · ornamental · bonsai
epiphyte
Non-parasitic botanical hitchhiker
- germinationSeed's initial growth phase
- entwineWind around each other
- encirclementSurrounding enemy forces completely
lattice · crown · canopy · embrace · wrap · descend · columnar · scaffold · network · fusion
host
One receiving guests
- suffocateKill by blocking air
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
- outcompeteBeat in rivalry
dominate · usurp · overtake · supplant · encroachment · mortality · dieback · exploitation · persistence · survivor
strangle, strangler figs, strangled, strangler, strangling, strangulation, strangulate