Babe in the Wood - Sarasota, Florida, USA.
N 27° 22.994 W 082° 33.778
17R E 345447 N 3029852
'The Banyan Tree' is often called the 'Strangler Fig' & is living up to its reputation, by engulfing this stone cherub statue in its fatal embrace. Located on the Ringling estate, in Sarasota, Florida.
Waymark Code: WMN2AN
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 12/13/2014
Views: 11
A row of stone cherub sculptures line the footpath, leading to the entrance of Ca'D'Zan a Venetian Gothic style, palatial mansion, built for John & Mable Ringling, the Circus Magnate.
The Statue is engulfed by the roots dropping from the tree above.
Information on the Ringling Estate: (
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"Banyan - usually means the Indian Banyan or Ficus benghalensis. It is the National tree of both the Republic of India and Bangladesh. However, the term actually includes all figs which share their epiphytic life cycle. The seeds of banyans are dispersed by fruit-eating birds. The seeds germinate and send down roots towards the ground. These roots may envelop (cover) part of the host tree or building structure, from which they get the casual name of strangler fig.
A number of tropical forest species grow by strangling. There are other examples in the genus Ficus that competes for light. Any Ficus species showing this habit may be termed a strangler fig.
Older banyan trees have aerial prop roots that grow into thick woody trunks which, with age, can become indistinguishable from the main trunk. Old trees can spread out laterally using these prop roots to cover a wide area.
Once the roots get to the ground, they suck up nutrients and grow faster and thicker. They cover the trunk of the host tree, and their leaves and branches in the canopy block the light from the host. Lacking enough nutrition and light, the host tree eventually dies. Its wood is destroyed by beetles, termites and fungi. Only the hollow space inside the banyan remains. The banyan roots make a huge cylinder, and it stands up perfectly well." Text Source: (
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