The Wild Banyantree is part of a group of fig trees known as strangler figs. They begin their lifecycle as an epiphyte in the canopy of another tree, often a cypress, palm, or oak in the Everglades. As the tree grows, it sends roots to the ground, creating a very beautiful and unique looking structure. Over the lifecycle of the tree, it often will crowd out the host tree, killing it, and becoming a free standing tree itself.