The five glossy-leaved figs native to Moggill


Ficus macrophylla: Moreton Bay fig

  • leaves are glossy dark-green above and brownish below
  • leaves are large  (10 – 25 cm long and 7 – 15 cm wide)(Putting Back The Forest by Bryan Hacker, Rona Butler and Rae Rekdahl ) and alternate
  • fig is orange to purple with creamy white dots  – (www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au  Brisbane RainForest Action and  Information Network)

 

 

Ficus watkinsiana

like the Moreton Bay (Ficus macrophylla) in appearance… but

  • its leaves are green on both surfaces
  • its purple fruit have a distinctive nipple at the apex   (A Field Guide to Australian Trees by Ivan Holliday – FGAT)
  • occurs as a big strangler in rainforest areas and has virtually disappeared from Brisbane’s western suburbs except perhaps for the upper reaches of Gold Creek or Moggill Creek (Graeme Wilson).
  • we have planted one since the flood

 

 

Ficus rubiginosa

NOTE WELL: This fig in Queensland is different to the Port Jackson Rusty Fig which occurs in NSW where it has a rusty-red (rubiginosa) colour underneath the leaf. In the past it has also been known as Ficus platypoda – Rock Fig (GW). It has also been known as Ficus obliqua – Small-leaved Fig (FGAT). Ficus rubiginosa in SE Qld was previously known as Ficus platypoda or Ficus obliqua var. petiolaris. It is a hairless form of Rock Fig / Port Jackson Fig / Rusty Fig. (Trees and Shrubs in Rainforest of New South Wales and southern Queensland [Williams, Harden & McDonald 1984] – also known as The Red Book – TRB). The website http://www.davidmcminn.com/ngc/pages/nativefigs.htm confirms this.

  • it has clusters of paired yellow-orange figs
  • its leaves are glossy green
  • it is a banyan and can put down aerial / secondary  roots/ buttresses (Wikipedia) This has occurred in only one of these figs on our property, where the septic tank has an overflow hose!
  • it is the most common variety on our property, besides the sandpaper figs, and one of them is extremely tall


See also http://www.saveourwaterwaysnow.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=171

 

Ficus superba var, henneana:

  • we have planted 2 since flood but one died during a very hot period
  • deciduous
  • solitary fruit
  • attractive to Coxen fig bird, which unfortunately may be extinct

 

 

Ficus virens:the White Fig

  • attractive to Channel-billed Cuckoos
  • deciduous – very dramatic dropping of leaves within a few days, the regrowth of young pale leaves is also very fast
  • leaves have distinctive yellow veins
  • the largest fig tree on our property
  • the fruit is paired, white or (pinkish) brown (Land For Wildlife, South East Queensland July 2010, Flora Profile by  Alan Wynn – LFW)
To our way of thinking it deserves the title:

The Mighty Virens

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1 Response to The five glossy-leaved figs native to Moggill

  1. Pingback: The monkeys are back! | moggblog

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