14 BUREAU OF GEOLOGY
Figure 12. The Florida Strangler Fig (Golden Fig) (Ficus aurea) seedlings develop on the upper branches and trunks of other trees. As the roots grow down the host's trunk, a dense crown of foliage shades out the host's crown. In time the fig is firmly rooted in the ground and the host is nearly or totally dead. Aerial roots drop from branches to the ground, forming additional trunks. It grows to 50 feet high, with trunks up to three feet in diameter. Fruits are red, round to ovate, 3/4-inch long, and stalkless (from Ra. Div. of Forestry, 1980).
Figure 13. The Lignumvitae tree ("Tree of Life") (Zygophyllaceae = Beancaper Family) grows up to 25 feet high, with trunks up to two feet in diameter. Fruits are bright orange, ovate, five-angled, about 3/4-inch long (from West and Arnold, 1946).