would parasitism be an accurate way to describe the relationship between the strangler fig and the cypress tree?

The relationship between the strangler fig and the cypress tree closely resembles one of parasitism but is not. It is considered commensalism.

Explanation:

Parasitism is when one organism uses another as a host in order to survive, which generated negative impacts for the host, which will usually end in death. The strangler fig uses the tree as a host in order to sustain itself structurally but does not siphon nutrients from the tree or directly kill it, therefore it is not a form of parasitism.

Commensalism is described as a relationship between two organisms, in which the benefits are gained by only one of the members, but neither of the two is harmed in any way.

The relationship between the strangler fig and the cypress tree is best described as commensalism, given that although the strangler fig does eventually cause the tree to die by encircling its roots and not allowing it to grow, it does not kill the tree directly in order to survive.

hydroxyl -oh

alcohols, always polar, can form hydrogen bonds with h2o molecules

carboxyl -cooh  

cargoxylic acids, has acidic properties which is a source of hydrogen ions, found in cells in ionized for with a charge of oh-1

carbonyl > co

ketone if within skeleton, aldehyde if group is at the end of skeleton, k & a may be structural isomers, it determines 2 sugars (ketose & aldose)

amino -nh2

amines, acts as a base, it can pick up h+ ions from surrounding solution, ionized with charge of 1+

methyl ch2

addition to rna/dna affects and gene expression

phosphate -opo3 ²⁻

organic phosphates, contributes to negative charge to, molecule that it is a part of, and potential to react with h20

sulfhydryl -sh

thiols, cross-linking stabilize the protein, and it is structure