Strangling Fig, Watkin’s Fig, Nipple Fig, Bellinger River fig, Green-leaved Moreton Bay Fig
Ficus watkinsiana

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A strangler fig which can grow to 60 m tall. It is often 25-35 m high and 15-30 m wide. It is a large tree with a spreading crown. It has strangler roots. The bark is grey and has pustules. The young shoots are bright green. The leaves are simple and 8-25 cm long by 10-15 cm wide. They are smooth. The leaf stalks are 4-7 cm long. The fruit are 20-40 mm long by 15-30 mm wide. They occur singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. The fruit are dark purple with pale spots. The fruit 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

It can grow from tropical to temperate regions. It likes high rainfall. They grow naturally in rainforest in New South Wales and SE Queensland in Australia. It grows between 400-1100 m altitude. Geelong Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.

Countries/locations it is found in

Australia (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or aerial layers. 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.

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ficus bellingeri C. Moore & Betche; Ficus simmondsii Bailey;