Late Nature Note

In the tropics, lack of soil or root space means nothing. If there is water and sun, something will grow. In this case, it is a strangler fig, growing in a crack in the grout between the Metrorail platform and the retaining wall, two stories up. The county keeps cutting it off, and it keeps growing back. In the end, the fig will win.



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As ever, this is part of the Nature Notes meme.



Nature Notes

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 08/16 at 10:20 PM in Nature Notes


(6) Comments
#1. Posted by Miz Shoes on August 17, 2009

Testing the comments. Are we working now?

#2. Posted by ramblingwoods on August 17, 2009

Let’s see if this works…This is a great idea for a Nature Notes post. It seems that Mother Nature will stick something in every little crack and crevice…seems like it earned it place to stay…I am routing for the fig….Michelle

#3. Posted by RJ Flamingo on August 17, 2009

Exactly where is that? I’ve seen stuff growing in some pretty weird places, but that’s bizarre.

#4. Posted by Miz Shoes on August 17, 2009

It’s on the southeast corner of the Metro Mover level at Government Center, where the escalator is on the outside edge of the building. This is an older shot, and the fig has been cut down again, but it’s still there, and still growing. If you click on the photo, you can clearly see where the main trunk has been cut off many times. Doesn’t matter. Springs out of a new node and keeps on growing.

#5. Posted by Bird on August 19, 2009

Holy cow, strangler figs can kill and bring down trees far bigger than themselves! It’s kind of scary how inexorable this thing is.

#6. Posted by Vicki on August 19, 2009

Amazing how tenacious life can be. That’s a great photo!

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