The sycomore fig tree, the African queen of trees, begins life as a tiny seedling, then gracefully ages to over 100 years old. This regal tree is the centerpiece of an extraordinary ecosystem, producing several tons of fruit a year and feeding a greater variety of animals than any other kind of tree in Africa. The animals that feast on the tree’s fruit, in return, disperse the fig seeds far and wide. But other creatures who harvest the queen’s sweet and nourishing sap may damage the tree in the process.