They are trees of life and trees of knowledge. They are wish-fulfillers rainforest royalty more precious than gold. They are the fig trees, and they have affected humanity in profound but little-known ways. Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers tells their amazing story.

Snakes and ladders & tantalising figs -- Trees of life, trees of knowledge -- A long seduction -- banyans and the birth of botany -- Botanical monkeys -- Sex & violence in the hanging gardens -- Struggles for existence -- Goodbye to the gardeners, hello to the heat -- From dependence to domination -- The war of the trees -- The testimony of volcanoes -- Once destroyed, forever lost? -- A wedding invitation.