ClimbingBunny@kbin.social to Plants@kbin.social · 1 year agoBanyan trees, AKA strangler figs, can live for centuries. They germinate in tree branches and grow aerial roots downwards. This stabilizes them so they can wrap around the host tree, creating pressuremedia.kbin.socialexternal-linkmessage-square3fedilinkarrow-up13arrow-down10
arrow-up13arrow-down1external-linkBanyan trees, AKA strangler figs, can live for centuries. They germinate in tree branches and grow aerial roots downwards. This stabilizes them so they can wrap around the host tree, creating pressuremedia.kbin.socialClimbingBunny@kbin.social to Plants@kbin.social · 1 year agomessage-square3fedilink
minus-squareniktemadur@lemmy.worldlinkfedilinkarrow-up1·1 year agoDo they kill the host tree, or is it a symbiotic relationship?
minus-squareClimbingBunny@kbin.socialOPlinkfedilinkarrow-up1·1 year agoYes they kill their hosts! By applying pressure they “strangle” the host until it dies and rots away, leaving an empty hole in the center of the tree.
Do they kill the host tree, or is it a symbiotic relationship?
Yes they kill their hosts! By applying pressure they “strangle” the host until it dies and rots away, leaving an empty hole in the center of the tree.