Seed dispersal of tree stranglers

1. First, let’s start with the growth characteristics of tree stranglers

This kind of tree has no root system at the beginning, and grows from top to bottom. When its roots begin to sprout, they wrap around the main tree and grow longer and stronger, even reaching directly into the ground. This will squeeze the trunk of the original main tree, thus cutting off the life source of the main tree. It cannot get sunlight, and its nutrients are ruthlessly occupied by fruit trees. Then the main tree will slowly dry up and die. When the main tree dies, it will fall down and fall on another tree. In this way, the second tree will ruthlessly become the new main tree of the fruit trees.

2. Next, let’s talk about how they turned out.

This tree is also called "parasitic fig". It is very vigorous and can bear fruit at any time regardless of the season. Here we have to mention the relationship between animals and plants. Some are "life-and-death" relationships, while others are "friendly" coexistence.

Although the strangler is a "fig", in fact, its edible fruit part is actually its flower, and the inside of the flesh is actually the stamens. In the small fig stage, the female wasp lays eggs in the ovary of the flower and dies in the fig. Then, when the fruit grows bigger and the eggs hatch, the young wasps can break out of the fruit, carrying pollen and fertilizing it.

3. Finally, how do their seeds spread?

Since strangler figs bear fruit all year round and most of the places where they like to grow are dry and water-scarce, juicy figs often become the favorite food of birds. After birds eat this type of fruit, the seeds cannot be digested in the bird's body and can only be excreted in the bird's excrement. These seeds will not lose their germination ability after entering the stomachs of birds. On the contrary, they will become more conducive to sowing because of the bird droppings. Because birds can fly very long distances in a short period of time, seeds can be spread far and fast.