Hi Raghu, Nice photographs but a Banyan tree cannot be called an epiphyte. It is a Hemiepiphyte . Am reproducing below what I wrote on this topic on this site in July 2008 [I believe to you]. Regards, Neil. 25th July 2008. Hi, Most Fig trees belong to a group called Primary Hemiepiphytes. A Parasite taps into the vascular system of the host plant for water and nutrients. An Epiphyte only takes support on the host tree while drawing water and nutrients from wherever they can get them. A Hemiepiphyte, by definition, switches survival strategy over its lifetime. A Primary Hemiepiphyte such as a Fig tree begins life as a canopy epiphyte. After a few years having accumulated sufficient reserves, it sends a root abruptly down to earth. Once a connection has been established the plant can now reach a huge size by sending down more roots. In ‘Strangler Figs’ the roots remain plastered against the trunk of the host tree and may coalesce to form a cramped basket around the trunk ultimately crushing it to death. The tree corpse then rots and falls away and the strangler then continues to grow as a regular tree. In Secondary Hemiepiphytes such as Philodendrons and Monstera- they start at ground level as vines and then work their way up into the canopy. Eventually the vine’s terrestrial roots become redundant and its stem dies at the tree base and the plant continues its life as an epiphyte. With regards, Neil Soares.
--- On Fri, 5/28/10, raghu ananth <[email protected]> wrote: From: raghu ananth <[email protected]> Subject: [efloraofindia:36264] Strangler fig | Banyan on Wood apple To: [email protected] Date: Friday, May 28, 2010, 7:11 PM Bilva trees are becoming more rare and rare in our immediate neighborhood. This tree is bearing fruits and dozens of them are found fallen on the ground. People who value the tree and its fruit come from far and take few fallen fruits with them Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa (syn. Belou marmelos (L.) A. Lyons, Crateva marmelos L.) Bel, Beli fruit, Bengal quince, Stone apple, Wood apple • Hindi: बेल Bel • Manipuri: হৈৰীখগোক Heirikhagok • Marathi: Maredu • Tamil: Vilvam • Malayalam: Vilvam • Telugu: Sandiliyamu • Kannada: Bilvapatre • Bengali: বেল Bel • Konkani: Bello • Urdu: Bel • Assamese: বেল Bel • Gujarati: Bili • Sanskrit: Adhararuha, Sivadrumah, Tripatra Host tree Bilva Epiphyte: Banyan 07 May 2010 Chandagal Village, Mysore district Regards Raghu -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "efloraofindia" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/indiantreepix?hl=en.
