Medium to large tree with buttressed trunk, banyan with few aerial roots or strangler, semi deciduous or deciduous. Monoecious.
Weed Category:
Weed:
No
Form or habit:
Med tree, Large Tree
Family:
Moraceae
Leaf:
Simple Alternate Simple, alternate, entire, ovate to elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, 8-19 x 3.5-9cm. Stipules 0.5-1.5cm; petioles 2-7cm. More dry and papery to touch compared to other local figs. Leaves exhibit prominent pale lateral veins visible on both sides.
Flower conspicuous:
Inconspicuous
Flower colour:
Flower description:
Flowers are enclosed within the fig itself and generally pollinated by specific wasps.
Fruit conspicuous:
Conspicuous
Fruit colour:
Black, Brown, Purple, White, Pink, Red
Fruit:
Fleshy
Fruit description:
Globular figs 0.7-2cm in diameter. Pinkish brown or white with reddish spots ripening to to purple and sometimes black. September to July.
Habitat:
Beach scrub, gallery (riverine or riparian) forest, littoral rainforest, rainforest.
Distribution
Cape York to Richmond River in NSW, northern WA and NT.
Food source for:
Fruit attracts a range of birds, as well as the spectacled flying fox.
Toxicity:
No toxicity known
Origin:
Australia
Notes:
A useful tree for arresting stream bank erosion.
Information sources:
Melzer R. & Plumb J. (2007) Plants of Capricornia., Society for Growing Australian Plants. Mackay Branch. (1989). One hundred and one trees of Mackay.
