''Ficus henneana'' is a

strangler fig Strangler fig is the common name for a number of tropical and subtropical plant species in the genus ''Ficus'', including those that are commonly known as banyans. Some of the more well-known species are: * '' Ficus altissima'' * '' Ficus aurea'' ...

only occurring in Australia. Previously considered a

variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film) ...

of '' Ficus superba'' which occurs in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, most populous country, with a Population of China, population exceeding 1.4 billion, slig ...

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

and parts of

South East Asia Southeast Asia, also spelled South East Asia and South-East Asia, and also known as Southeastern Asia, South-eastern Asia or SEA, is the geographical south-eastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of mainland ...

. The cedar fig or deciduous fig grows in Australia from Milton, New South Wales to northern

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

and the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Aust ...

. The habitat is riverine, littoral or the drier forms of

rainforest Rainforests are characterized by a closed and continuous tree canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforest can be classified as tropical rainforest or temperate rainfores ...

. The fruit is considered edible for humans, but it is not particularly palatable.

Collection and naming

This Australian variety was named after Diedrich Henne, who collected this plant at Booby Island in the

Torres Strait The Torres Strait (), also known as Zenadh Kes, is a strait between Australia and the Melanesian island of New Guinea. It is wide at its narrowest extent. To the south is Cape York Peninsula, the northernmost extremity of the Australian ma ...

in 1861. In 1868 it was named ''Ficus henneana''. Joseph Banks also collected this plant from the Booby Island on August 23, 1770. That specimen may have been from the same tree as Henne's specimen, (as the island is so small). Banks' plant was named in 1901 after the Endeavor's artist Sydney Parkinson, (Ficus parkinsonii). However, this name fell out of favour as ''Ficus henneana'' was already named in 1868. The specific epithet ''superba'' is from Latin referring to "outstanding" or "superb". The plant has had other scientific names, such as ''Ficus gracilipes'', ''Ficus pritzelii'' and ''Urostigma superbum''. The tree is semi

deciduous In the fields of horticulture and Botany, the term ''deciduous'' () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...

, seldom losing all leaves. It may be seen almost bare of leaves in the month of October. In 2013, the species was reassigned to the original name of ''Ficus henneana'', as described by Friedrich Miquel. Booby Island aerial

Description

''Ficus henneana'' can grow to in height in the best sites, or a smaller spreading tree on exposed rocky slopes. Like other

s it is a hemi-epiphyte. The bark is grey or reddish brown. Rough with scales, cracks and vertical bumps. The base of the tree is buttressed, but not as prominently as in the

Moreton Bay fig ''Ficus macrophylla'', commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig or Australian banyan, is a large evergreen banyan tree of the family Moraceae native to eastern Australia, from the Wide Bay–Burnett region in the north to the Illawarra in New ...

. White sap appears when a branch is cut. Leaves are alternate, simple and entire, long and wide. Oval or elliptical in shape. Mostly with a short blunt tip. Rounded at the base or heart shaped. This tree can be identified in

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

by the long leaf stem long. The leaf midrib is sunken on the upper surface and raised below.

Reproduction

Flowers form within a translucent receptacle, a

syconium Syconium (plural ''syconia'') is the type of inflorescence borne by figs (genus ''Ficus''), formed by an enlarged, fleshy, hollow receptacle with multiple ovaries on the inside surface. In essence, it is really a fleshy stem with a number of flow ...

. Flowers pollinated by

fig wasp Fig wasps are wasps of the superfamily Chalcidoidea which spend their larval stage inside figs. Most are pollinators but others simply feed off the plant. The non-pollinators belong to several groups within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, while the ...

s within the fig. The mature fig changes to a purplish colour with pink dots, globular in shape, in diameter. Figs ripe from January to July, but sometimes appearing mature in different times of the year. The figs are eaten by a large variety of birds including the Australasian figbird, Coxen's fig parrot, green catbird, Lewin's honeyeater,

regent bowerbird The regent bowerbird (''Sericulus chrysocephalus'') is a medium-sized, up to 25 cm long, sexually dimorphic bowerbird. The male bird is black with a golden orange-yellow crown, mantle and black-tipped wing feathers. It has yellow bill, black ...

, rose crowned fruit dove, topknot pigeon, wompoo fruit dove and yellow-eyed cuckoo-shrike. Regeneration is easy from fresh seed and cuttings. The '' marcotting'' technique of propagation is suited to ''Ficus henneana''.

Uses

Suited to parks and large gardens as an ornamental tree

Gallery

File:Ficus superba var. henneana leaves.jpg, Deciduous fig leaves, from Maleny, Australia File:Ficus superba var henneana trunk.JPG, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney File:Ficus superba var henneana figs.JPG, Fallen figs - Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney File:Deciduous Fig Foxground NSW Australia.JPG, mature tree at Foxground

References

{{Taxonbar, from1=Q21269548, from2=Q5446643 henneana Rosales of Australia Trees of Australia Flora of Queensland Flora of New South Wales Ornamental trees Epiphytes Plants described in 1867