The Ways of Matapalo - Jonas Miller (03/24)

Nestled within the deep Amazon rainforest exists a killer unlike any other. A hemi-epiphyte plant and a keystone species in the Amazonian ecosystem, the strangler fig (known locally as Matapalo) may be one of the most iconic trees in the region. Adrian Forsyth and Ken Miyata discuss the fascinating strangler fig in their book, Tropical Nature (1995). Rather than sprouting from the ground, the strangler fig grows from pockets of organic matter in the crooks and crannies of large tropical trees. Its first roots dangle towards the earth, multiplying upon contact with the soil to slowly cover and suffocate the entire tree that bore its first sprouts. 

 

Figure: the general life stages of a strangler fig as it covers another tree.

As a mature tree, the strangler fig is crucial to the rainforest ecosystem ecology. Dozens if not hundreds of different animals, primarily invertebrates and notably beetles, take refuge within the complex folds of the fig's many layers. Just like other species of fig, the fruits produced by the strangler fig provide a valuable resource to troops of monkeys, flocks of parrots, swarms of stringless bees, and countless other creatures. Furthermore, when the tree entombed by the strangler fig completely decomposes, the fig itself often falls to the forest floor. In a sense, the fig sacrifices itself for the sake of forest succession, a vital component of rainforest ecology. 

The importance of the strangler fig also extends to the people of the region. During logging operations, the tree is often left standing due to the relative poor quality of its wood. As such, the tree provides crucial shade to works in hot, tropical environments and represents an iconic part of pastures and other agricultural fields in the region. While the the fruits of the tree are edible, they are diminutive and full of seeds, meaning they are rarely eaten by people. In some indigenous communities, the tree is revered as a holy place and holds powerful symbolism in their spiritual mythology. If the strangler fig remains standing after the interior tree decomposes, sunlight will penetrate through the gaps in the tree's trunk and create a Cathederal-esque display of dappled light within the tree. These subtly beautiful displays of nature often lend themselves to spiritual relevance, a phenomenon embraced by Amazonian Indigenous cultures.   

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sarah Chapman- Homelessness Countering the Destruction of Home by Kip Redick

Reading Homelessness Countering the Destruction of Home by Kip Redick challenged the way I think about both ecology and spirituality. What struck me most is the idea that “home” is not just a physical structure but an event, a lived relationship. Drawing from Martin Heidegger, Redick describes dwelling as a kind of embodied participation in a community that includes not only humans, but also earth, sky, plants, animals, and even tools. I found myself reflecting on how rarely I actually experience that kind of dwelling. So often, I move through spaces quickly, distracted, or focused on productivity rather than presence. However, as I have continued to take classes with Dr. Redick, I try to be more intentional and aware of nature. The essay made me more aware of how deeply modern technology shapes the way I relate to the world. Through thinkers like Jacques Ellul and Emmanuel Levinas, Redick argues that we have turned the world into “standing reserve”, something to be used efficiently ra...
Read more

Iroquois Creation Story Paper Presentation (Amanda Capper)

 During today's class, one of our classmates shared her essay on the Iroquois creation story. I thought this was actually really interesting, because I had never heard of it before. One thing that struck me as particularly interesting was the main theme of reciprocity and balance. For example, the earth (Gaia) as an independent resource was interesting to me. Through Gaia, other environmental constituents also spring up, such as trees, grasses, dirt, the ocean, the rivers, etc. These features give humanity sustenance, breadth, and life. This is where the reciprocal practices come from. Using these materials and the natural world for our benefit, yes, but there's more to life than just this.  I've always thought that the Native worldview is so much better than our own worldview. I think when we get so involved in ourselves, materialistic and capitalistic culture, we lose sight of what really matters - community and the ecosystem we live in. Its not just about the things we h...
Read more

Kip Redick Introduction

Welcome to the Religion and Ecology blog for 2026. Make sure to start the blog with your name and the subject of the entry (Just as I have done with this post). Blog entries will be considered informal writing assignments and as such will be graded more in relation to content than style. Blog entries will contain questions and answers to questions, as well as reflections which relate to daily classroom discussions, completion of exercises, and reading assignments. Any questions the student has when reading or completing assignments should be written in their blog. Reflections may relate to connections the student makes between discussions in this class and those in other classes, between arguments raised in the readings in this class and those raised in other classes or in informal conversations. Students are encouraged to apply the ideas learned in this class to activities that take place outside of the class. These applications make great reflections. The student s...
Read more