Shrewd Growth Scheme

My Forces of Nature pictures come from the plant life we have seen on our hikes in and around Kuala Lumpur.  Specifically, these photos were taken at the Forest Research Institute Malaysia, or FRIM.

These curly cork screw vines can be seen in any forest in Malaysia.  Well, at least in any of the forests we have been in.  They are opportunistic, growing around another plant and reaching their way to the canopy and towards the sun.  Eventually, they smother their host and the original plant rots away while the vine retains the whorled shape.