36 – Ficus macrophylla

Ficus macrophylla Desf. ex Pers.

Moreton Bay fig tree

Scientific name: Ficus macrophylla Desf. ex Pers.

Family: Moraceae

Origin: Austràlia

Year planted: Unknown

Flowering: Summer

Description

It is a very large tree, reaching up to 60 metres in height, with a robust trunk and strong buttresses.

Its leaves are large: shiny on one side and velvety on the other. On the other hand, the flowers are very small and pollinated by wasps.

Its fruit, the fig, is also small and takes a year to ripen. It can be eaten, but is little appreciated.

Marimurtra’s specimens

In the garden you will find a specimen with very large roots. New trunks grow from its base, intertwining with each other and it is difficult to tell whether it is a single tree or several.

It is 9 metres high and has a very large crown with many leaves. It therefore creates a large shady area.

Did you know that…?

Most ficus trees are strangler trees. This means that if the seed germinates in the crown of another tree, its roots grow until they reach the ground.

The ficus then continues to grow on top of the tree and invades the tree until it kills it.

Threat level (UICN)

Main uses

Raunkiaer Life Forms