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Ficus destruens F.Muell. ex C.T.White
| Family Name: | Moraceae |
| Common Name: | Rusty Fig, Boonjee Fig |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Queensland |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a strangler fig, growing to 32m. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Leaves are narrowly elliptic to lanceolate (5.1 cm – 19.4 cm long and 1.6 – 6.3 cm wide) in alternate arrangement. Leaf has acute apex and cuneate base. Upper surface of leaves is mostly hairless, while the underside is covered in reddish brown hairs. Stipule and petiole are covered in reddish brown hairs. |
| Fruit | Occurring in pairs, each fig (1 – 2.0 cm long, 1.1 – 1.6 cm in diameter) is slightly flattened sphere with 2 - 3 overlapping basal bracts. Mature fig is orange-red, densely hairy, with 2 segmented of fig opening (bilabiate ostiole). Peduncle is 0.3 – 0.6 mm long and hairy. |
| Associated Fauna | It is pollinated by Fig wasp, Pleistodontes rigisamos. |
| Etymology | Latin Ficus, the commercial edible fig (Ficus carica); Latin destruens, means destruction, and refers to the ability to destroy its host. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens |
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Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
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| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
Foliar
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.0 (Tree - Intermediate Canopy) |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red, Brown |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute, Velvety / Furry / Tomentose |
References
| References | Chew, W.L. 1989. Flora of Australia Volume 3, Hamamelidales to Casuarinales. . Canberra: CSIRO Publishing. 504 Dixon, D.J. 2003. A taxonomic revision of the Australian Ficus species in the section Malvanthera (Ficus subg. Urostigma: Moraceae). Telopea. 10 (1). 125-153 |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1612 |
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| Species ID | 2905 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
