Ficus
Most people have little familiarity with the ficus genus. A few are household plants but these never grow to the stature that can reach when planted into the ground. In the tropics, these plants are scary. They grow to huge sizes, with massive root systems and flanks on the trunks which prevent many from being grown in average size yards. Among these are the stranglers, many of which begin with a seed planted high on a host tree. Roots meander to the ground and once the root reaches the ground the branches and trunk grow to phenomenal proportions reaching around the host tree and literally strangling the life from the host. These add a new dimension to word "rampant". Some of the ficus grown in Mango's Jungle have these killer instincts. They have good fruit though and I love the fruit of all of the ficus. Humans are picky and only eat one kind. Let me tell you of my favorites.
The rubber plant (Ficus elastica) which is a common household plant now reaches high into the sky. I love the big bold leaves and the aerial roots of this ficus. Now a similar happening is being created by the lofty banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis), which is from India. This is now one of the largest trees in the yard with several aerial roots extending down from the branches to the ground.
A small Ficus triangularis which was purchased as a small shrub grew quickly into a tree. It is one of the most beautiful of the ficus with triangular leaves and a hairy trunk. A Ficus macrophylla, which is native to Australia, Ficus microcarpa nitida from the Orient, and a Ficus alee are now in the process of becoming trees and these trunks are each showing the aerial roots typical of the ficus.
A Ficus altissima overlooks the barbecue area which it shares with a 40 to 50 foot tropical bamboo. This ficus has leaves that are larger than on the rubber plant, and although the tree itself is not nearly the size of the rubber plant or the banyan tree, it is pronouncing its foothold in the area.
A couple other ficus of note are the species carica (the edible fig), and the petiolaris (a small ficus from the western deserts of Mexico). There are also a few species of which were not marked when purchased and could not be identified. The ficus group, however, creates an exotic knockout to the visitors who have never before seen them. Their leaves appear to be made of plastic, and their trunks are awesome. The ficus with the palms truly brings the deep jungle into my yard in Texas.
Michele under
the Banyan tree.
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