''Ficus opposita'' is one of several fig species commonly known as sandpaper figs. It is native to the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

and

Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

.Other common names include sweet sandpaper fig, sweet fig and the ambiguous "figwood" and "watery fig". It grows as either a shrub or small tree. As the figs ripen, their colour changes from green to yellow to reddish-brown and finally, to black. The fruit is edible and palatable, tastier than most other fig species. It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the Queensland butterfly the common- or purple moonbeam ('' Philiris innotatus''). The leaves on this plant can treat skin infections such as tinea. Shown to hybridise with ''Ficus coronulata''.

References

opposita Rosales of Australia Trees of Australia Flora of the Northern Territory Flora of Queensland Drought-tolerant trees {{rosid-tree-stub