Creek Sandpaper Fig, Creek Fig
Ficus coronata

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small tree. It is often bushy. The trunk is short and crooked. The bark is dark brown. The young shoots are rough and hairy. The leaves are 5-15 cm long by 2.5-5 cm wide. They are oblong. The leaves are thin. They have a sandpaper like texture. The leaves are dark green above and paler underneath. They taper to the tip. The leaf stalks are 0.3-1 cm long. They fruit or figs are 1-2 cm across. They are green but turn reddish-black and are fleshy. They grow from the trunk, the older branches and the axils of leaves. They are edible.

There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They grow in subtropical and warm temperate locations. In tropical Queensland it grows between 500-600 m altitude. It needs well drained soils. It can grow in sun or shade. It often grows along creek banks. It suits hardiness zones 9-11. Adelaide Botanical Gardens. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin), Tasmania

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten when fully ripe. They are good flavour but dry and can be stewed with sugar and water. The hairy skin needs to be removed.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings. The seed are removed from the fig and mixed with sand before sowing as they are very small. Take the seed from ripe purple-black fruit. The plant needs a small wasp to fertilise the fruit.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ficus stephanocarpa Warb.;