paulberridge
Strangler fig trees
Something a little different. I have a few bird shots from these locations.
We have two local tourist destinations with two huge old fig trees. Both have walk ways around them to keep people off the actual tree roots and understory plants.
Both trees are thought to be over 500 years old. In one of the photos i managed to get a person photo bombing but it still doesn't really give a true indication of actual size.
They are heritage listed so will be protected for as long as they can remain standing. There is so much information on these two trees i was not sure what to add. I will add both of their names so they can be found with ease via google.
First three photos are of the Curtain fig tree and the others are of the Cathedral fig tree.
These Fig Trees are of the strangler fig species (Ficus virens.) Normally these figs germinate on top of another tree and try to grow roots into the ground. Once this important step is accomplished, the fig will grow vigorously, finally kill the hosting tree and then grow on independently. In the case of curtain fig the hosting tree tilted towards the next one; the fig also grows around that one. Its curtain of aerial roots drops 15 metres (49 feet) to the ground.
Although these figs kill their hosts, they are an epiphyte which basically feeds from the ground, unlike a parasitic plant which feeds from the sap of the host plant/tree.
Strangler fig trees
Something a little different. I have a few bird shots from these locations.
We have two local tourist destinations with two huge old fig trees. Both have walk ways around them to keep people off the actual tree roots and understory plants.
Both trees are thought to be over 500 years old. In one of the photos i managed to get a person photo bombing but it still doesn't really give a true indication of actual size.
They are heritage listed so will be protected for as long as they can remain standing. There is so much information on these two trees i was not sure what to add. I will add both of their names so they can be found with ease via google.
First three photos are of the Curtain fig tree and the others are of the Cathedral fig tree.
These Fig Trees are of the strangler fig species (Ficus virens.) Normally these figs germinate on top of another tree and try to grow roots into the ground. Once this important step is accomplished, the fig will grow vigorously, finally kill the hosting tree and then grow on independently. In the case of curtain fig the hosting tree tilted towards the next one; the fig also grows around that one. Its curtain of aerial roots drops 15 metres (49 feet) to the ground.
Although these figs kill their hosts, they are an epiphyte which basically feeds from the ground, unlike a parasitic plant which feeds from the sap of the host plant/tree.