Ficus macrophylla
Environmental Weed (2024)
Common names
Moreton Bay fig
Biostatus
Exotic
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Trees & Shrubs - Dicotyledons
Flower colours
Green
Similar taxa
Ficus elastica (rubber plant) is often cultivated (mainly indoors in cooler climates). Its leaves have many parallel and equal-sized veins (see photos) extending from the midrib whereas F. macrophylla has reticulated (network of) veins, some more prominent than others. Some parks around the world have F. macrophylla incorrectly labelled as ‘rubber trees’.
Habitat
Commonly planted ornamental. The seed is bird dispersed and seedlings usually start as epiphytes (so difficult to detect until well-established); as they mature they can overwhelm and kill the supporting tree. Common tree hosts include Phoenix canariensis, Butia spp., pohutukawa, titoki and plane trees. May also establish on stone walls and old buildings.
Conservation status
Not applicable
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Moraceae
Ecology
Origin
Australia
Reason for introduction
Ornamental
Tolerances
Cold intolerant
Life cycle and dispersal
Long lived tree. Reproduces by seed. Small, long-lived are dispersed by birds and gravity.
Other information
Etymology
ficus: The Latin name for fig tree, possibly derived from the Hebrew word fag
macrophylla: Big leaf
Environmental Weed (2024)
This plant is named in a list of 386 environmental weeds in New Zealand 2024 prepared by DOC. 759 candidate species were considered for inclusion on this new comprehensive list of environmental weeds in New Zealand. The species considered were drawn from published lists of weed species, lists of plants that must be reported or managed by law if observed, existing national and regional programmes and agreements for pest management, and species already managed by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Candidate species were then assessed to see if they were fully naturalised and whether they have more than minor impacts in natural ecosystems. Read the full report here.
NVS code
The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.
FICMAC
Referencing and citations
References and further reading
Ogle, Colin; Ogle, Robyn (2010): Pollination, fruiting and spread of Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla) in New Zealand, with notes on other Ficus species New Zealand Botanical Soc. Newsletter 100: 9-13