Ficus Tree

''Ficus benjamina'', commonly known as weeping fig, benjamin fig or ficus tree and often sold in stores as just ficus, is a species of flowering plant in the family Moraceae, native to Asia and Australia. It is the official tree of Bangkok. The species is also naturalized in the West Indies and in the states of Florida and Arizona in the United States. Its small fruit are favored by some birds. Ficus trees have proved to have environmental benefits in urban areas, such as acting as biomonitors. The species is also associated with some allergens.

Description

''Ficus benjamina'' is a tree reaching tall in natural conditions, with gracefully drooping branchlets and glossy leaves , oval with an acuminate tip. The bark is light gray and smooth. The bark of young branches is brownish. The widely spread, highly branching tree top often covers a diameter of . It is a relatively small-leaved fig. The changeable leaves are simple, entire and stalked. The petiole is long. The young foliage is light green and slightly wavy, the older leaves are green and smooth; the leaf blade is ovate to ovate-lanceolate with wedge-shaped to broadly rounded base and ends with a short dropper tip. The pale glossy to dull leaf blade is cm long and wide. Near the leaf margins are yellow crystal cells ("cystolites"). The two membranous, deciduous stipules are not fused, lanceolate and (rarely to ) long.

''F. benjamina'' is monoecious. The inflorescences are spherical to egg-shaped, shiny green, and have a diameter of . In the inflorescences are three types of flowers: male and fertile and sterile female flowers. The scattered, inflorescences, stalked, male flowers have free sepals and a stamen. Many fertile female flowers are sessile and have three or four sepals and an egg-shaped ovary. The more or less lateral style ends in an enlarged scar. Pollination of F. benjamina only occurs with a specific type of wasp that live symbiotically together.

The ripe figs (collective fruit) are orange-red and have a diameter of .

The tree is treated as an ornamental bush and indoor plant in many places. But it is one of the best shade trees. It can grow to enormous size. Its capability of carbon sequestration is also good.

Cultivation

In tropical, subtropical and warm temperate latitudes, the weeping fig makes a very large and stately tree for parks and other urban situations, such as wide roads. It is often cultivated for this purpose, such as in Bourbong Street Weeping Figs in Bundaberg, where it is heritage listed.

''F. benjamina'' is a very popular houseplant in temperate areas because of its elegant growth and tolerance of poor growing conditions; it does best in bright, sunny conditions, but it also tolerates considerable shade. It requires a moderate amount of watering in summer and only enough to keep it from drying out in the winter. Longer days, rather high daytime and moderate night-time temperatures constitute favorable conditions for appreciable growth in a short time. It does not need to be misted. The plant is sensitive to cold and should be protected from strong drafts. When grown indoors, it can grow too large for its location and may need drastic pruning or replacement. ''F. benjamina'' has been shown effectively to remove gaseous formaldehyde from indoor air. ''F.'' ''benjamina'' also helps eliminate heavy metals, most commonly in urban areas. The plant has been used as a biomonitor in New Mexico.

Figs tend to be consumed dried. The fruit is edible, but the species is not usually grown for its fruit. The leaves have been known to have pharmaceutical benefits such as anti-oxidant properties. The leaves are very sensitive to small changes in light. When a tree is turned around or relocated, it reacts by dropping many of its leaves and replacing them with new leaves adapted to the new light intensity. The plant is also sensitive to changes in other environmental factors such as temperature, humidity and relocation (citation needed).

Cultivars

Numerous cultivars are available (e.g. 'Danielle', 'Naomi', 'Exotica', and 'Golden King'). Some cultivars include different patterns of colouration on the leaves, ranging from light green to dark green, and various forms of white variegation. In cultivation in the UK, this plant and the variegated cultivar 'Starlight' have earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Miniature cultivars, especially 'Too Little', are among the most popular plants for indoor bonsai.

Destructive roots and hurricane propensity

The United States Forest Service states, "Roots grow rapidly, invading gardens, growing under and lifting sidewalks, patios, and driveways." They conclude that its use in tree form is too large for residential planting, therefore, the species should only be used as a hedge or clipped screen.

These trees are also considered a high risk for succumbing to storm gale winds in hurricane-prone South Florida. As a consequence, in many jurisdictions in South Florida, no permit is needed for removal of these trees. The South Florida Water District recommends removing them safely and promptly.

Allergic reactions

The plant is a major source of indoor allergens, ranking as the third-most common cause of indoor allergies after dust and pets. Common allergy symptoms include rhinoconjunctivitis and allergic asthma. ''Ficus'' plants can be of particular concern to latex allergy sufferers because of the latex in the plants and should not be kept in the environment of those allergic to latex. In extreme cases, ''Ficus'' sap exposure can cause anaphylactic shock in latex allergy sufferers. The consumption of many parts of the plant can lead to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; safe exceptions are the edible fruits.

Allergy to ''Ficus'' plants develops over time and from exposure. The allergy was first observed in occupational settings amongst workers who regularly handled the plants. A study of workers at four plant-leasing firms showed that 27% of the workers had developed antibodies in response to exposure to the plants.

Gallery

File:Weeping-fig Ficus-benjamina.jpg, Foliage
File:Ficus benjamina 1.jpg, Fruits
File:Starr 050516-1264 Ficus benjamina.jpg, Tree in Hawaii
File:Ficus benjamina.jpg, Tree in Tenerife
File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Waringinbomen op de alun-alun in Loemadjang TMnr 60027266.jpg, Tree in the ''alun-alun'' (city square) of Lumajang, East Java. The iconic tree toppled in January 2021
File:Ficus benjamina Sukabumi.jpg, Tree in West Java
File:Ficus benjamina 'Starlight' kz01.jpg, Ficus benjamina 'Starlight' in the Botanic Garden of the Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland
File:FicusBenjaminaGreece.jpg, Ficus benjamina in Patras, Greece
File:Milano - Banca d'Italia 0545.JPG, Ficus benjamina in the Bank of Italy building in Milan, Italy

References

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benjamina
Weeping trees
Flora of the Australasian realm
Flora of the Indomalayan realm
Trees of Australia
Flora of tropical Asia
Flora of China
Flora of Taiwan
Plants described in 1767
Rosales of Australia
Plants used in bonsai
Garden plants of Asia
Garden plants of Australia
Ornamental trees
Shrubs
House plants
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus