The seed germinated, quickly sending roots toward the forest floor. The roots grew larger over the years, entangling the host tree's trunk and usurping nutrients and light which the host needed. The host died, leaving the strangler to feast at its decaying mass. Over the years, the host tree completely rotted away. In its place now stands the marvelous hollow fig, like an entombed statue at Pompeii.
Strangler figs play essential roles in the ecology of the rainforest.
They fruit year round and provide food for birds and mammals when other foods are scarce. I got my chance to climb up the fig, and as I gazed across the forest canopy, I felt glad to be alive. As we continued our walk, I noticed the forest interior had a moist feel to it, and light was dim. The trees spread their leaves up high to form a canopy, competing with their neighbors for light. There were many plants growing directly on the trunks and branches of trees, called epiphytes.