A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Ficus watkinsiana
The Strangler Fig is a hemiepiphytic fig that is endemic to Australia, and this specimen looks like it's straight out of Rivendell (from Lord of the Rings for the uninitiated). This is an old tree and is very large, and whatever the tree was that it had grown around, it has long-since departed - there is not a trace of it to be found other than the shape of the fig itself. It's very possible that the host tree was Queensland Red Cedar (Toona ciliata). It's a species that these Strangler Figs seem to be very fond of. Here's a nearby spotting - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/957...
Found in subtropical rainforest on the Westcliff Track, Bunya Mountains National Park, southeast Queensland. Here's some info on the park - http://www.nprsr.qld.gov.au/parks/bunya-...
Spotted on Jul 22, 2014
Submitted on Jul 22, 2014
7 Comments
Hahaha. Gotta brush up on the Aussie lingo for sure!
It's worth the trip. Some beautiful pristine areas. Here's one spotting that may help you decide - http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/266... Like the fig, these beech leave me gobsmacked! Good to learn some Aussie slang too. Fair dinkum :)
Don't tempt me! Though I just might... this fig is definitely awesome.
Wow is what I think every time I see this tree. It has a magical quality about it, as do many large trees. I think it's that they leave us with a sense of awe. Come to Australia. Here, these figs are growing wild and free :)
Wow! What a beauty! And you are right, this is pretty impressive. I'd love to see one some day.
Thanks, Martin. I've had never seen anything like this before. I managed to squeeze inside it. Next time I'll climb to the top. Don't know why I didn't do it this time.
That is an impressive one Neil.
Nature sure tries every possible way to survive in the jungle.