Ficus macrophylla
The Moreton Bay fig was first scientifically scribed by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon.
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It was thought to have evolved 41 million years ago.
Canopy
The Moreton Bay Fig is an ever green species. It is a large tree which can expand up to 60m into the sky. The scientific name Ficus macrophylla has it origins in two ancient greek words: makros meaning, large and phyllon meaning leaf.
In the wild Ficus macrophylla is known to act as epiphytic STRANGLER. It’s seeds drop into the canopy of a neighboring tree, dropping aerial roots to the ground and eventually choking out it’s host.
We used to meet, my girl and I, down by the Municipal Gardens. Under the Moreton Bay fig we’d lie, her hand in mine, mine on her thigh, down by the Municipal Gardens. The grass was green, the grass was high, the sun had traversed half the sky, and I thought that we would always lie down by the Municipal Gardens. We used to walk, my girl and I, on the path beside the river. The kingfisher watched with a knowing eye, the willows were green and green was I, beside the swollen river. The grass is brown, the grass is dry, the sun is falling down in the sky and I know that we will never lie down by the municipal gardens. ~William Butler Smith
In order to reproduce Ficus marcrophylla has formed a mutual relationship with Plestodontes froggatti, a unique wasp which lays its eggs within the ‘fruit’ of the fig.
Bark
The Moreton Bay fig has a powerful root system which continually buttresses itself, they have been know to break apart roads and footpaths. It is reccomended that they are not planted in residential gardens to minimise risk of damage to housing foundations.