Ficus Hemi-Epiphytes (Moraceae) et Arbres Supports

Abstract
In the tropical rainforest of the Tai National Park (ivory Coast), only 20.6 percent of the 160 species of trees recorded are colonized by hemi-epiphytic figs. These figs are not randomly distributed among the host trees; some common host species are proportionately much less colonized than other less common species. The comparative statistical analysis of the structural characters of colonized and noncolonized trees suggests a model of tree structure favoring colonization by figs. Still, if these characters combined converge toward light access, which agrees with the evolution of figs toward hemi-epiphytism, part of this work and the subsequent discussion tend to show that hemi-epiphytic figs are interacting with other influencing factors, such as the presence or absence of epiphytic ferns and orchids.