Question

Strangler figs are plants that attach themselves to trees for their growth and support. They absorb nutrition from the host tree and cause it to struggle to obtain sunlight and nutrients. Orchids are also plants that attach themselves to tropical trees. However, orchids don’t harm the host. Orchids obtain sunlight and moisture from their surroundings. What can you conclude from this situation?

Answer 1

Strangler figs are plants that attach themselves to trees for their growth and support. They absorb nutrition from the host tree and cause it to struggle to obtain sunlight and nutrients. This indicates that Strangler figs is a parasite to the trees.

Orchids are also plants that attach themselves to tropical trees. However, orchids don’t harm the host. Orchids obtain sunlight and moisture from their surroundings. This indicates that orchids are in a commensalist relationship with the trees.  

Both Strangler figs and orchids exhibit symbiotic relationship of two different kinds, namely, parasitism and commensalism.

Answer 2

Answer:

• Orchids are commensal in nature.
• Strangler figs are parasitic in nature.

Explanation:

Most orchid species grow on tree trunks and branches, and their roots even spread invasively. This leads people to think that tree-growing orchids (called epiphytes) are parasites, but in reality they are not. They only live on the tree, but do not affect it. That is why we can say that orchids are commensal in nature, unlike strangling figs.

Strangler is a parasite that simply uses its "host" plant as a support. As the hanging roots and branches of the strangling fig spread, the fig overtakes the host and kills it by turning off the light and stealing the nutrient soil and soil the host plant used. The strangling fig becomes a large tropical shade tree with good resilience to tropical storms.