BACK COUNTRY BY ROBERT ADAMS

Deep in a forest, a strangler fig [Ficus aurea] envelopes a towering cypress tree. Although widely thought to be an invasive species, it is actually native to Florida, with fossils suggesting their presence millions of years ago, and botanist Thomas Nutall describing them in 1846. Strangler figs can kill their host by encasing the host’s trunk and roots, stealing light, water and nutrients.

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Jan. 1, 2026