What happens is they eventually weaken the tree via shading,
competition for moisture and at the same time put quite a
bit extra weight load on the tree skeleton/structure. Now
when a good wind comes up they get blown over due to the
extra wind loading, weight and weakening to the trees
ability to support itself and vine.

--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI/Zone 5b
Remove no.spam for email


The tree would form response wood over time to make up for the weight of
vines. Trees can adjust and adapt in certain cases put material where it
is required for mechanical optimization. There is a strangler ficus tree in
the tropical's that grows around a tree and when the tree symplast dies and
the tree is decomposed with the help of the succession of microorganisms,
it then remains with a hollow tube on the inside.