Ficus watkinsiana

F. M. Bailey

Strangling Fig, Watkin’s Fig, Nipple Fig, Bellinger River fig, Green-leaved Moreton Bay Fig

Moraceae Edible: Fruit 725 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Ficus watkinsiana, commonly known as Watkins' fig, nipple fig or the green-leaved Moreton Bay fig is a rainforest strangler fig that is endemic to Australia. It occurs in two populations—one in northeast Queensland and the other in southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales. It was first described in 1891, and has the conservation status of Least Concern.

Description

A strangler fig which can grow to 60 m tall. It is often 25-35 m high and 15-30 m wide. It is a large tree with a spreading crown. It has strangler roots. The bark is grey and has pustules. The young shoots are bright green. The leaves are simple and 8-25 cm long by 10-15 cm wide. They are smooth. The leaf stalks are 4-7 cm long. The fruit are 20-40 mm long by 15-30 mm wide. They occur singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. The fruit are dark purple with pale spots. The fruit are edible.

Edible Uses

The dark purple fruit are edible and can be eaten fresh.

Distribution

It can grow from tropical to temperate regions. It likes high rainfall. They grow naturally in rainforest in New South Wales and SE Queensland in Australia. It grows between 400-1100 m altitude. Geelong Botanical Gardens. It suits hardiness zones 8-10.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

Plants are grown from seed or aerial layers. The seed are removed from the fig and mixed with sand before sowing as they are very small. Take the seed from ripe purple-black fruit.

Notes

There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Nutrition

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Fruit	71	380	91	0.7	—	—	0.8	0.3

Synonyms

Ficus bellingeri C. Moore & BetcheFicus simmondsii Bailey

References (18)

Beasley, J., 2011, Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. Footloose publications. p 96
Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 474
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 162,
Cooper W & Cooper W T, 1994, Fruits of the Rain Forest. RD Press p 138
Cooper, W. and Cooper, W., 2004, Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest. Nokomis Editions, Victoria, Australia. p 328

Show all 18 references

Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 604
Elliot, W.R., & Jones, D.L., 1992, Encyclopedia of Australian Plants suitable for cultivation. Vol 4. Lothian. p 293 (Photo)
Flora of Australia, Volume 3, Hamamelidales to Casuarinales, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra (1989) p 40
Haslam, S., 2004, Noosa's Native Plants. Noosa Integrated Catchment Assn. Inc. p 340
Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 102
Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 67
Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 221
Low, T., 1991, Wild Food Plants of Australia. Australian Nature FieldGuide, Angus & Robertson. p 81
Low, T., 1992, Bush Tucker. Australia’s Wild Food Harvest. Angus & Robertson. p 64
Queensland Bot. Bull. 2:18. 1891
Ratcliffe D & P., 1987, Australian Native Plants for Indoors. Little Hills press. p 91
Townsend, K., 1994, Across the Top. Gardening with Australian Plants in the tropics. Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch Inc. p 216
Williams, J.B., Harden, G.J., and McDonald, W.J.F., 1984, Trees and shrubs in rainforests of New South Wales and Southern Queensland. Univ. of New England, Armidale. p 66

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