Ficus platypoda
(Miq.) Cunn. ex Miq.
Rock fig, Desert fig, Common Rock fig, Small-leaved Moreton Bay Fig, Rusty fig, Port Jackson fig
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What to Eat
Edible parts: Fruit
The fruit can be eaten when soft and ripe. Horticulturally, it is suitable for use in bonsai; its tendency to form a wide trunk base and small leaves being attractive features. Specimens have been exhibited in at the 5th Annual Exhibition of Australian Native Plants as Bonsai in Canberra in November 2007.
Where to Find It
A subtropical plant. It grows on low rocky coastal cliffs. It is hardy and tolerant to cold. It grows on dry hills. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 10-11.
Australia*, Hawaii, New Zealand, Pacific, USA,
How to Identify
A fig. It is a small tree. It grows to 6-30 m high. It spreads out and has aerial and clinging roots. The leaves are thick and leathery. They are broadly oval. The blade is 6-10 cm long by 1-7 cm wide. The midrib and veins are distinct. The tip is pointed. The flowers are very small. Both male and female flowers are enclosed in a fleshy receptacle (the fig). The fruit is 0.8-1.4 cm across. It becomes red to purple when ripe. They are commonly in pairs in the axils of leaves.
Nutrition Score: 45/100
| Part | Moisture | kJ | kcal | Protein | Vit A | Vit C | Iron | Zinc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fruit dried | 8.2 | 1461 | 350 | 3.8 | — | — | — | — |
How to Grow
Plants can be grown from seed. They can also be grown from aerial layers.
Other Uses
The bark contains a strong fibre. The light yellow wood is soft. No used are recorded for it.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Ficus platypoda, commonly known as the desert fig or rock fig, is a fig that is endemic to central and northern Australia. It is a lithophytic plant that grows on rocky outcrops, reaching 10 m in height.
Production
The fruit cn be picked off the tree or harvested from the ground.
Other Information
They are eaten especially by children.
Notes
There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.
Names & Synonyms
Bindjili, Winyarrpa
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