|
Strangler Figs |
Begin as epiphytes, develop aerial roots that envelop host trees |
Ficus annulata, Ficus dubia |
Create habitats (hollow trunks), accelerate nutrient cycling |
|
Giant Canopy Trees |
Massive buttress roots, emergents above forest canopy |
Ficus stupenda, Ficus altissima |
Keystone food resources, support epiphyte communities |
|
Shrubs & Small Trees |
Understory growth, often with cauliflory |
Ficus septica, Ficus deltoidea |
Food for ground-dwelling animals, forest gap colonization |
|
Climbers & Epiphytes |
Root climbers or true epiphytes on other trees |
Ficus pumila, Ficus punctata |
Utilize vertical space, increase structural complexity |
|
Riparian Specialists |
Flood-tolerant, often with stilt roots |
Ficus grossularioides, Ficus heteropleura |
Stabilize riverbanks, fruit during flood seasons |