dom nessi
"Angkor Thom" * Cambodia
* Cambodian temples were built during Khmer regime much before 15th century. However after the fall of this dynasty the temples remained neglected for 5 long centuries, that is till 20th century.
Nobody realized how and when these trees completely captured several of the temples here. The roots have grown over, through and then under these temple foundations crushing them completely.
The trees at Cambodian temples are nicknamed as strangler trees of Angkor, as their growth results in death of host trees.
Two other varieties of trees too took firm root here, the Silk Cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra) and Thitpok tree (Tetrameles nudiflora). They are common in tropical forests throughout the world. Birds and bats propagate these seeds which are sticky in nature.
Young strangler lives on the tree’s surface, grows long roots, and descends along the trunk of the host tree. Eventually they reach the ground, enter the soil and get a firm hold. As several roots go through this process they get grafted together, enclosing their host’s trunk in a strangling latticework.
Ultimately they create a complete sheath around the trunk. At many places we saw this network of roots, and they have fiercely strong grip.
My complete Cambodia Album is found at www.flickr.com/photos/domnessi/albums/72157680697116845
"Angkor Thom" * Cambodia
* Cambodian temples were built during Khmer regime much before 15th century. However after the fall of this dynasty the temples remained neglected for 5 long centuries, that is till 20th century.
Nobody realized how and when these trees completely captured several of the temples here. The roots have grown over, through and then under these temple foundations crushing them completely.
The trees at Cambodian temples are nicknamed as strangler trees of Angkor, as their growth results in death of host trees.
Two other varieties of trees too took firm root here, the Silk Cotton tree (Ceiba pentandra) and Thitpok tree (Tetrameles nudiflora). They are common in tropical forests throughout the world. Birds and bats propagate these seeds which are sticky in nature.
Young strangler lives on the tree’s surface, grows long roots, and descends along the trunk of the host tree. Eventually they reach the ground, enter the soil and get a firm hold. As several roots go through this process they get grafted together, enclosing their host’s trunk in a strangling latticework.
Ultimately they create a complete sheath around the trunk. At many places we saw this network of roots, and they have fiercely strong grip.
My complete Cambodia Album is found at www.flickr.com/photos/domnessi/albums/72157680697116845