Scientific Name: Ficus Macrophylla
Common Name: Moreton Bay Fig
Turrbal Name: Ngoa-nga (Petrie, 1904)
Indigenous Use
Fruit eaten when ripe. Root bark fibre used in the making of scoop fishing nets.
When to Use
The fruit is typically ripe late Summer early Autumn. The bark is available all year round.
Identification
Leaves: The leaves of Ficus macrophylla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay Fig, are large, leathery, and oval-shaped. They typically measure between 15-25 cm in length and 6-10 cm in width. The leaves are dark green and glossy on the upper surface, with a paler underside. They have prominent veins and a slightly wavy margin (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Bark: The bark of Ficus macrophylla is grey and smooth on younger trees, becoming rough and more fissured with age. The tree is known for its massive, buttress roots that provide stability and support for its large size (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024).
Flowers: The flowers of Ficus macrophylla are small and enclosed within a fleshy structure called a syconium, which is the characteristic fig. The syconia are borne in leaf axils and mature into large, edible fruits. The flowers are pollinated by specific wasps that enter the syconium to lay their eggs (Plants of the World Online, 2024).
Fruit: The fruit of Ficus macrophylla is a globular fig, approximately 2-2.5 cm in diameter. The figs are initially green, turning purple or brown as they ripen, typically in late summer to early autumn. The fruits are edible and consumed by various animals, aiding in seed dispersal (Australian National Botanic Gardens, 2024; Floridata, 2024).
Ecosystems
Found in the below ecosystem/s.
Rainforests: Sub-tropical rainforests usually consist of three strata of trees with up to 60 species making up the canopy, many with large leaves. Palms and strangler figs are common and the undergrowth is luxuriant with many epiphytic or terrestrial ferns and orchids and abundant large climbers of many species. In Queensland, rainforests can be found in well-known locations like the Daintree Rainforest, Lamington National Park, and Mary Caincross Park.
References
Australian National Botanic Gardens (2024). Ficus macrophylla. Available at: https://www.anbg.gov.au/ficus-macrophylla [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Plants of the World Online (2024). Ficus macrophylla. Available at: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid
.org:names:853199-1 [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Floridata (2024). Ficus macrophylla. Available at: https://www.floridata.com/Plants/Moraceae/Ficus-macrophylla/566 [Accessed 24 June 2024].
Cribb, A.B. and J.W., Useful Wild Plants. Fontana Books 1982
Cribb A.B. and J.W., Wild Food in Australia. Collins, Sydney, 1974
Leiper, G., Glazebrook, J., Cox, D., & Rathie, K., 2008. Mountain to Mangroves: A Field Guide to the Native Plants of South-east Queensland. Logan River Branch, Society for Growing Australian Plants.
Petrie, Constance, Tom Petrie’s Reminiscences of Early Queensland. Angus and Robertson, 1975, (facsmile of 1904 edition)