376 IN LOWER FLORIDA WILDS 



ones, "marrying" wherever they touch each other, 

 and soon the whole system becomes a closely 

 cemented network. In some cases the falling 

 roots turn once or more around the trunk of the 

 host before reaching the ground. At first they do 

 not seem to injure the embraced tree but later 

 when they have fully enclosed it the leaves turn 

 yellow and it slowly dies. There is no funeral or 

 any sign of mourning in the dim forest; the Ficus 

 deliberately goes on covering the dead trunk with 

 its terrible roots. Soon boring beetles invade the 

 trunk, which on account of the heat and moisture 

 has already begun to decay. In a short time there 

 begins to fall from between the enclosing roots 

 what looks like sawdust which forms a mound at 

 the foot of the Ficus. Now the usurper begins to 

 fill in the space (which was occupied by the host) 

 with its own growth, becoming for a time an endo- 

 gen, and later the Ficus becomes a solid trunk 

 standing erect and looking much like any ordinary 

 forest tree. The whole process, which is somewhat 

 complicated and requires many years for its com- 

 pletion, is initiated and carried out in order that 

 the fig may have an opportunity to begin life and 

 have a place in the forest where there is plenty of 



