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Of Country Fig Or Cluster Fig Or Ficus Glomerata Or Gular... holistic-herbalist.com |
Ficus obliqua, commonly known as the Small-leaved Fig, is a species of fig tree native to Australia. It is found along the east coast from Queensland, through New South Wales in rainforest, savanna woodland, sclerophyll forest and gallery forest. It can grow to 60 m (200 ft) high and nearly as wide. F. obliqua is pollinated by two species of fig wasp—Pleistodontes greenwoodi and P. xanthocephalus. Many species of bird, including pigeons, parrots and various passerines, consume the fruit. It is used as a shade tree in parks and public spaces, and is well-suited for use in bonsai.
[edit] TaxonomyCommonly known as the Small-leaved Fig, Ficus obliqua was described by German naturalist Georg Forster in 1786. It was alternately known as F. eugenioides for many years, however Forster's name is older and thus has precedence. The specific epithet is the Latin adjective obliquus "oblique", although what attribute it refers to is unclear.[2] The species is currently regarded as monotypic. Three varieties of Ficus obliqua were recognised until 2001—F. obliqua var. petiolaris, F. obliqua var. obliqua, and F. obliqua var. puberula from Western Australia. However, a revision of the group led to the conclusion that F. obliqua var. petiolaris actually belonged in the species F. rubiginosa.[3] F. obliqua var. puberula has been reclassified as Ficus brachypoda. With over 750 species, Ficus is one of the largest angiosperm genera.[4] Based on morphology, English botanist E. J. H. Corner divided the genus into four subgenera;[5] later expanded to six.[6] In this classification, Ficus obliqua was placed in subseries Malvanthereae, series Malvanthereae, section Malvanthera of the subgenus Urostigma.[7] In his reclassification of the Australian Malvanthera, Australian botanist Dale J. Dixon altered the delimitations of the series within the section, but left this species in series Malvanthereae.[5] [edit] DescriptionFicus obliqua is a tree which may reach 15–60 m (50–200 ft) in height and similar width.[8] It has smooth thin grey bark with lighter-colured lenticels, and a buttressed trunk, which may reach 3 m (10 ft) in diameter. The glossy green leaves are elliptic to oblong in shape and measure 5–8 cm (2–3 in) long by 2–3.5 cm (0.8–1.4 in) wide on 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) petioles.[8] They are alternately arranged on the stems.[2] Growing in pairs, the round yellow fruit turns orange with maturity April-July and reaches a diameter of 8 mm (0.3 in).[8][9] It can be distinguished from Ficus rubiginosa by its smaller fruit on shorter stalks, and its glabrous (hairless) leaves.[9] [edit] ReproductionFigs have an obligate mutualism with fig wasps, (Agaonidae); figs are only pollinated by fig wasps, and fig wasps can only reproduce in fig flowers. Generally, each fig species depends on a single species of wasp for pollination. The wasps are similarly dependent on their fig species in order to reproduce. F. obliqua is pollinated by two species of fig wasp—Pleistodontes greenwoodi and P. xanthocephalus.[10] The assumption that fig species are usually pollinated by just one species of fig wasp has been challenged by the discovery of cryptic species complexes among what was previous thought to be single species of fig wasps.[11] [edit] Distribution and habitatFicus obliqua occurs from Mount Dromedary (36° S) in southern New South Wales northwards along the coast and Great Dividing Range into the Cape York Peninsula in north Queensland and New Guinea and offshore islands. It is a rainforest tree.[9] It had been thought to occur in Western Australia, but these collections have been now referred to Ficus brachypoda. [edit] Ecology The Double-eyed Fig-parrot (Cyclopsitta diophthalma) eats the fruit of Ficus obliqua, steadily depositing fruity detritus on the ground.[12] The Rainbow Lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus) is another which consumes the fruit and disperses the seeds;[3] others species include the Brown Cuckoo-dove (Macropygia phasianella), Rose-crowned Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus regina), Wompoo Fruit-dove (P. magnificus), Wonga Pigeon (Leucosarcia melanoleuca), Topknot Pigeon (Lopholaimus antarcticus), Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis), Pied Currawong (Strepera graculina), Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina novaehollandae), Olive-backed Oriole (Oriolus sagittatus), Australasian Figbird (Sphecotheres vieilloti), Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris), Regent Bowerbird (Sericulus chrysocephalus), Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus), and Lewin's Honeyeater (Meliphaga lewinii).[2] Leaves of F. obliqua serve as a food source for the larvae of the butterfly species the Common Crow (Euploea core),[13] the No-brand Crow (Euploea alcathoe),[14] and the geometer moth (Scopula epigypsa).[15] [edit] UsesFicus obliqua is an elegant shade tree for parks or fields, and is adaptable to differing soils. Its timber is too soft for use in woodworking.[8] Although it is much less used in bonsai than F. rubiginosa,[16] it is well-suited for use in the medium; its small leaves and trunk's propensity to thicken,[17] its attributes optimal for a tree 10–80 cm (4–32 in) in height. It is seen in bonsai nurseries mainly in the Brisbane area, where it is a locally common species, and is very highly regarded by at least one proponent, Bradley Barlow.[18] Barlow's specimen from Brisbane won a prize at the Bonsai Clubs International competition in 2006.[19] It is also suited for use as an indoor plant in low, medium or brightly-lit indoor spaces.[20] The fruit is edible and palatable.[21] [edit] Gallery
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