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Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia ‘Green Island’

Green island fig

This species is native from Ceylon to India, southern China, Ryukyu Islands, Australia, and New Caledonia. It is not native to the United States, but it has gained a vigorous foothold in the southern US. It is rugged and does well as bonsai.

Plants: There is a great deal of confusion over several closely related Ficus species. This rather spirited article attempts to sort out several commonly confused species. This ficus is epiphitic, often serving as a host for other plants. Mature trees can reach 60′ (18 m) in height, dangling many aerial roots. This dwarf cultivar, however, does not exceed 3′ (1 m) in height.

Leaves: Obovate leaves with a pointed tip. This distinguishes them from the variety Ficus microcarpa ‘Green Island’, which has orbicular, nearly round leaves, with only a barely discernible tip.

Flowers: Invisible. Seriously. Flowers grow in the interiors of the immature fruits, requiring pollinators to drill in.

Fruits: Figs, about ½″ (1.3 cm) around, green, maturing to red and then purplish black. They are, um, kinda round—depending upon who you consult, they are “globose, globular, spherical, subglobose, ovoid, obovate, oblong, oblate, oblate-spherical, or pyriform.”

Habitats: The natural species prefers warm humid tropical and subtropical climates, such as tropical rainforests, river edges, coasts, swamps and mangroves.

Edibility: Technically fruits are edible, but not appealing.

Online References:

Www.horticulturist.com

 

Ficus microcarpa (green island fig)

Bonsai. · 12/12/2016 · Bonsai West, Littleton, Mass­a­chu­setts

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassRosidaeRoses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
OrderRosalesRose family and eight others
FamilyMoraceaeMulberry/fig family
GenusFicusA Latin name for the fig
SpeciesmicrocarpaSmall-fruited
var.crassifoliaThick-leaved

About plant names...

Range: Zones 9-11:

About this map...

Ficus microcarpa var. crassifolia ‘Green Island’ description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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