strangler fig

noun

Definition of strangler fig

: any of several figs (such as Ficus aurea of the southeastern U.S.) that start as epiphytes but send down roots to the ground around the host tree; broadly : any of various epiphytic vines or trees (such as Clusia rosea synonym C. major) of similar habit

Recent Examples of strangler fig from the Web

The beach stretches away for a mile and a half on either side of me; behind me are a few private houses set among strangler figs and mango trees.

— francesca gavin, Newsweek, "Captiva: The Island That Changed Rauschenberg and 20th Century Art," 13 Nov. 2016
Mango trees come in three colors—white, black and red—and Spanish moss hangs like dirty washing from the branches of the twisted strangler figs.

— francesca gavin, Newsweek, "Captiva: The Island That Changed Rauschenberg and 20th Century Art," 13 Nov. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'strangler fig.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.