Rock fig
Ficus platypoda, Fam. Moraceae
A bushy shrub or small tree, to 6m high with smooth, pale grey bark, producing aerial roots from the branches. Roots often exposed and growing over rocks and into cracks.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Shrub, Small tree |
| Family: | Moraceae |
| Leaf: | Egg shaped to lance shaped, base often rounded or heart shaped, leathery, dark glossy green above, yellow or grey green beneath, flattened stalk, 6-9 x 2-7cm. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Flower colour: | |
| Flower description: | Enclosed inside fleshy, hollow receptacles. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Purple, Orange, Red |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Orange to bright red or purple, globular, 1-1.5cm in diameter, usually borne in pairs in upper axils. |
| Habitat: | Gallery (riverine or riparian) forest. |
| Distribution | Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia. |
| Notes: | A useful small tree which is very hardy and will tolerate the very hot and cold conditions of central Australia as well as tropical conditions. Propagate from seed, aerial roots or cuttings. An excellent bonsai subject. |
| Information sources: | Townsend K. & the Society for Growing Australian Plant Townsville Branch Inc. (1994) Across the Top: Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. |
