Ficus macrophylla aka Moreton Bay Fig

Ficus macrophylla, also known as the Moreton Bay fig or Australian banyan, is a large evergreen banyan tree native to eastern Australia. It belongs to the Mulberry Family (Moraceae) and can be found from the Wide Bay-Burnett region in the north to the Illawarra in New South Wales, as well as Lord Howe Island. The tree derives its common name from Moreton Bay in Queensland. This magnificent tree is best known for its imposing buttress roots and can reach heights of up to 60 meters (200 feet) with crown spreads as wide as 76 meters (250 feet). It has a distinctive growth habit as a strangler fig, where its seed germination occurs in the canopy of a host tree. The seedling then lives as an epiphyte until its roots establish contact with the ground, at which point it enlarges and ultimately strangles its host, becoming a freestanding tree. The leaves of Ficus macrophylla are oval to elliptic, leathery, and can grow up to 30 centimeters long. They have brownish undersides and are arranged alternately on the stems. The tree produces small, round figs that are initially green with cream spots and ripen to a purple color. Ficus macrophylla forms mutualistic relationships with fig wasps, as all figs do. The wasp partner for the Moreton Bay Fig is Pleistodontes froggattii. Additionally, the tree's fruit serves as a food source for various bird species, including pigeons, parrots, and passerines. Due to its impressive size and aesthetic value, Ficus macrophylla is widely used as a feature tree in public parks and gardens in warmer climates. However, its aggressive root system makes it unsuitable for smaller private gardens. In its native range, this subtropical evergreen tree can exceed 30 meters in height. It has buttressed trunks and widely spreading branches, with aerial roots that can hang down to the ground, forming secondary trunks. The bark is rough and gray-brown, often marked with blemishes. The Lord Howe form of Moreton Bay fig is known for dropping aerial roots from its branches, which thicken into supplementary trunks to support its crown. In its natural rainforest environment, Ficus macrophylla often grows as an epiphytic strangler vine. When its seeds land on a host tree branch, it sends down aerial roots that eventually kill the host, allowing it to stand alone. Overall, Ficus macrophylla is a remarkable tree with its large size, striking buttress roots, and unique growth habit. It serves as an important component of the Australian ecosystem and is appreciated for its beauty in various parts of the world.