The Queen of Trees

"The remarkable story of an African fig tree and the special relationship it has with a tiny insect partner."

Nov 22 2005 N/A 0h 52m
Documentary

In Africa, the giant fig tree and the tiny fig wasp differ in size a billion times over, but neither could exist without the other. Their extraordinary relationship is a marvel of co-evolution, a marriage which has lasted for millennia. It forms the basis of a complex web of dependency that supports entire ecosystems, providing food for thousands of creatures, from elephants, giraffes, and fruit bats, to forest hornbills, monkeys, insects, and fish.

Plot

The fig tree and fig wasp differ in size a billion times over, but neither could exist without the other. Their extraordinary relationship is a pinnacle of co-evolution, and the basis of a complex web of dependency that supports animals from ants to elephants. Each individual fig is a microcosm - a stage set for birth, sex and death as the tiny players battle against predators and parasites to fulfill their mission. It is one of the most amazing stories in the natural world - a tale of intrigue and drama, set against grand Africa and it's wildlife.

Written by

Mark Deeble

Directed by

Mark Deeble, Victoria Stone

Production Companies

BBC

Languages

English

Awards

6 wins & 1 nomination

Scores
# of Votes
130
Average Rating
8.7 out of 10
Metascore
NA
Popularity
NA