Strangler Fig
Ficus watkinsiana
Family Moraceae
Notable ancient-forest structure
About
Starts life as a seed dropped by a bird high in a host tree, then sends roots to the ground and slowly encases its host over decades. The host eventually rots away, leaving a hollow lattice-trunked giant.
How to spot it
Unmistakable once mature — a massive lattice or fluted trunk, sometimes hollow in the middle where the host tree once stood. Common at Mount Cougal, Natural Bridge and the Springbrook gorges.
Documented on these trails
Found in
- Springbrook National Park
- Lamington National Park — South East Queensland hikes
- Tamborine National Park — South East Queensland hikes
Source: Queensland Dept of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation
Photo: Poyt448 Peter Woodard (Public domain) via Wikimedia Commons