Ficus benjamina - Revision history

Raffi at 15:23, 26 July 2010

2010-07-26T15:23:57Z

Rajgopal at 19:16, 19 July 2010

2010-07-19T19:16:30Z

Raffi at 15:50, 13 January 2010

2010-01-13T15:50:37Z

Raffi at 06:03, 2 November 2009

2009-11-02T06:03:49Z

Raffi at 19:19, 7 August 2009

2009-08-07T19:19:10Z

Christi at 09:21, 7 August 2009

2009-08-07T09:21:19Z

Raffi at 06:23, 28 March 2007

2007-03-28T06:23:03Z

New page

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Weeping Fig
| image = Weepingfig.jpg.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Urticales]]
| familia = [[Moraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Ficus]]''
| species = '''''F. benjamina'''''
| binomial = ''Ficus benjamina''
| binomial_authority = <small>[[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]</small>
}}

The '''Weeping Fig''' or '''Benjamin's Fig''' (''Ficus benjamina'') is a species of [[fig]] tree, native to south and southeast [[Asia]] south to northern [[Australia]]. It is the official tree of [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]. It is a [[tree]] reaching 30 m tall in natural conditions, with gracefully drooping branchlets and glossy [[leaf|leaves]] 6-13 cm long, oval with an acuminate tip. In its native range, its small fruit are a favorite food of some birds, such as the [[Superb Fruit-dove]], [[Wompoo Fruit-dove]], [[Pink-spotted Fruit-dove]], [[Ornate Fruit-dove]], [[Orange-bellied Fruit-dove]], [[Torresian Imperial-pigeon]], [[Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon]] (Frith ''et al.'' 1976).

==Cultivation==
In tropical latitudes, the Weeping Fig makes a very large and stately tree for parks and other urban situations, such as wide roads. It is often cultivated for this purpose.

It is a very popular [[house plant]] in temperate areas, due to its elegant growth and tolerance of poor growing conditions; it does best under bright, sunny conditions but will also tolerate considerable shade. It requires a moderate amount of watering in [[summer]], and only enough to keep it from drying out in the [[winter]]. It does not need to be misted. The plant is sensitive to cold and should be protected from strong drafts. When grown indoors, it can grow too large for its situation, and may need drastic pruning or replacing.

The leaves are very sensitive to small changes in light. When it is re-located it reacts by dropping many of its leaves and replacing them with new leaves adapted to the new light intensity.

There are numerous [[cultivar]]s available (e.g. 'Danielle', 'Naomi', 'Exotica', and 'Golden King'). Some cultivars include different patterns of colouration on the leaves, ranging from light green to dark green, and various forms of white [[variegation]].

This plant, along with the [[banyan]], are the most commonly used for "indoor" [[bonsai]]. This is due to their tolerance of the common household environment.

Weeping Fig has been shown by NASA to effectively filter indoor air toxins.

==Destructive Roots==
The United States Forest Service [http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/FICBENA.pdf] in Fact Sheet ST-251 states "Roots grow
rapidly invading gardens, growing under and lifting sidewalks, patios, and driveways." They conclude its use in tree form is much too large for residential planting, therefore in these setting this species should only be used as a hedge or clipped screen.

==References==
* '''Frith''', H.J.; Rome, F.H.J.C. & Wolfe, T.O. (1976): Food of fruit-pigeons in New Guinea. ''[[Emu (journal)|Emu]]'' '''76'''(2): 49-58. [http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/96/paper/MU9760049.htm HTML abstract]

[[Category:Moraceae|Fig, Weeping]]
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Flora of Thailand]]

@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 |image_width=240
 }}
 {{Inc|
-Ficus benjamina, Linn. A tree with small lvs., and smooth throughout: lvs. thin, not much coriaceous, shining, ovate-elliptic, entire, the apex sharply acuminate, 2-4½ in- long; lateral primary nerves very numerous, freely intermingling near the margins of the lvs.: frs. in pairs, axillary and sessile, smooth and blood-red when ripe. Malayan Penins. K. 52. 83h. Ficus benjamina Var. comosa, Kurz. Fig. 1504. Sepals lanceolate-acuminate rather than spatulate: fr. ¾ in. diam., narrowed at base rather than globose or ovoid.
+Ficus benjamina, Linn. A tree with small lvs., and smooth throughout: lvs. thin, not much coriaceous, shining, ovate-elliptic, entire, the apex sharply acuminate, 2-4½ in- long; lateral primary nerves very numerous, freely intermingling near the margins of the lvs.: frs. in pairs, axillary and sessile, smooth and blood-red when ripe. Malayan Penins. K. 52. 83h. Ficus benjamina Var. comosa, Kurz. Sepals lanceolate-acuminate rather than spatulate: fr. ¾ in. diam., narrowed at base rather than globose or ovoid.
 {{SCH}}
 }}
 ==Cultivation==
@@ Line 48: / Line 61: @@
 <gallery>
-Image:Upload.png| photo 1
+File:Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) in Hyderabad W IMG 8314.jpg|tree in [[Hyderabad, India]].
-Image:Upload.png| photo 2
+File:Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) in Hyderabad W IMG 8313.jpg|fig in [[Hyderabad, India]].
-Image:Upload.png| photo 3
+File:Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) in Hyderabad W IMG 8308.jpg|leaves in [[Hyderabad, India]].
 </gallery>

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 |habit=tree
 |Min ht metric=cm
-|Max ht box=30
+|Max ht box=80
 |Max ht metric=ft
 |origin=India
 |lifespan=perennial
-|exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
+|exposure=sun, shade
 |water=moist, moderate
 |features=evergreen, foliage, houseplant
 |Temp Metric=°F
 |min_zone=10
-|max_zone=11
+|usda_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia ISBN 0881925381
 |sunset_zones=13, 17, 19-25, 27, indoor
 |image=Weepingfig.jpg.jpg

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 |exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
 |water=moist, moderate
-|features=evergreen, foliage, indoor
+|features=evergreen, foliage, houseplant
 |Temp Metric=°F
 |min_zone=10

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
+{{SPlantbox
-| name = ''Ficus benjamina''
+|familia=Moraceae
-| common_names = Weeping Fig
+|genus=Ficus
-| growth_habit = tree
+|species=benjamina
-| high = ?   <!--- 1m (3 ft) -->
+|common_name=Weeping fig, Weeping Chinese Banyan
-| wide =     <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->
+|habit=tree
-| origin = ?   <!--- Mexico, S America, S Europe, garden, etc -->
+|Min ht metric=cm
-| poisonous =     <!--- indicate parts of plants which are known/thought to be poisonous -->
+|Max ht box=30
-| lifespan =     <!--- perennial, annual, etc -->
+|Max ht metric=ft
-| exposure = ?   <!--- full sun, part-sun, semi-shade, shade, indoors, bright filtered (you may list more than 1) -->
+|origin=India
-| water = ?   <!--- frequent, regular, moderate, drought tolerant, let dry then soak -->
+|lifespan=perennial
-| features =     <!--- flowers, fragrance, fruit, naturalizes, invasive -->
+|exposure=sun, part-sun, shade
-| hardiness =     <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F), etc -->
+|water=moist, moderate
-| bloom =     <!--- seasons which the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->
+|features=evergreen, foliage, indoor
-| usda_zones = ?   <!--- eg. 8-11 -->
+|Temp Metric=°F
-| sunset_zones =     <!--- eg. 8, 9, 12-24, not available -->
+|min_zone=10
-| color = IndianRed
+|max_zone=11
-| image = Weepingfig.jpg.jpg
+|sunset_zones=13, 17, 19-25, 27, indoor
-| image_width = 240px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
+|image=Weepingfig.jpg.jpg
-| image_caption =     <!--- eg. Cultivated freesias -->
+|image_width=240
 }}
 {{Inc|
@@ Line 43: / Line 36: @@
 {{edit-pests}}<!--- Type pest/disease info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
-==Species==
+==Cultivars==
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 64: / Line 56: @@
 *{{wplink}}
-{{stub}}
+__NOTOC__

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:21, 7 August 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Ficus benjamina, Linn. A rather unimportant tree horticulturally, with small lvs., and smooth throughout: lvs. thin, not much coriaceous, shining, ovate-elliptic, entire, the apex sharply acuminate, 2-4½ in- long; lateral primary nerves very numerous, freely intermingling near the margins of the lvs.: frs. in pairs, axillary and sessile, smooth and blood-red when ripe. Malayan Penins. K. 52. 83h. Ficus benjamina Var. comosa, Kurz. Fig. 1504. Sepals lanceolate-acuminate rather than spatulate: fr. ¾ in. diam., narrowed at base rather than globose or ovoid.
		+	}}
	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox
	\| color = lightgreen		\| color = lightgreen

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Inc|
-Ficus benjamina, Linn. A rather unimportant tree horticulturally, with small lvs., and smooth throughout: lvs. thin, not much coriaceous, shining, ovate-elliptic, entire, the apex sharply acuminate, 2-4½ in- long; lateral primary nerves very numerous, freely intermingling near the margins of the lvs.: frs. in pairs, axillary and sessile, smooth and blood-red when ripe. Malayan Penins. K. 52. 83h. Ficus benjamina Var. comosa, Kurz. Fig. 1504. Sepals lanceolate-acuminate rather than spatulate: fr. ¾ in. diam., narrowed at base rather than globose or ovoid.
+Ficus benjamina, Linn. A tree with small lvs., and smooth throughout: lvs. thin, not much coriaceous, shining, ovate-elliptic, entire, the apex sharply acuminate, 2-4½ in- long; lateral primary nerves very numerous, freely intermingling near the margins of the lvs.: frs. in pairs, axillary and sessile, smooth and blood-red when ripe. Malayan Penins. K. 52. 83h. Ficus benjamina Var. comosa, Kurz. Fig. 1504. Sepals lanceolate-acuminate rather than spatulate: fr. ¾ in. diam., narrowed at base rather than globose or ovoid.
-}}
+{{SCH}}
 }}
-The '''Weeping Fig''' or '''Benjamin's Fig''' (''Ficus benjamina'') is a species of [[fig]] tree, native to south and southeast [[Asia]] south to northern [[Australia]]. It is the official tree of [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]]. It is a [[tree]] reaching 30 m tall in natural conditions, with gracefully drooping branchlets and glossy [[leaf|leaves]] 6-13 cm long, oval with an acuminate tip. In its native range, its small fruit are a favorite food of some birds, such as the [[Superb Fruit-dove]], [[Wompoo Fruit-dove]], [[Pink-spotted Fruit-dove]], [[Ornate Fruit-dove]], [[Orange-bellied Fruit-dove]], [[Torresian Imperial-pigeon]], [[Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon]] (Frith ''et al.'' 1976).
+Weeping Fig has been shown by NASA to effectively filter indoor air toxins{{wp}}.
 ==Cultivation==
-In tropical latitudes, the Weeping Fig makes a very large and stately tree for parks and other urban situations, such as wide roads. It is often cultivated for this purpose.
+{{edit-cult}}<!--- Type cultivation info below this line, then delete this entire line -->
-It is a very popular [[house plant]] in temperate areas, due to its elegant growth and tolerance of poor growing conditions; it does best under bright, sunny conditions but will also tolerate considerable shade. It requires a moderate amount of watering in [[summer]], and only enough to keep it from drying out in the [[winter]]. It does not need to be misted. The plant is sensitive to cold and should be protected from strong drafts. When grown indoors, it can grow too large for its situation, and may need drastic pruning or replacing.
+===Propagation===
-The leaves are very sensitive to small changes in light. When it is re-located it reacts by dropping many of its leaves and replacing them with new leaves adapted to the new light intensity.
+===Pests and diseases===
-There are numerous [[cultivar]]s available (e.g. 'Danielle', 'Naomi', 'Exotica', and 'Golden King'). Some cultivars include different patterns of colouration on the leaves, ranging from light green to dark green, and various forms of white [[variegation]].
+==Species==
-This plant, along with the [[banyan]], are the most commonly used for "indoor" [[bonsai]].  This is due to their tolerance of the common household environment.
+==Gallery==
-Weeping Fig has been shown by NASA to effectively filter indoor air toxins.
+<gallery>
-==Destructive Roots==
+==References==
-The United States Forest Service  [http://hort.ufl.edu/trees/FICBENA.pdf] in Fact Sheet ST-251 states "Roots grow
+*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
-rapidly invading gardens, growing under and lifting sidewalks, patios, and driveways."  They conclude its use in tree form is much too large for residential planting, therefore in these setting this species should only be used as a hedge or clipped screen.
+<!--- xxxxx  *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381  -->
-==References==
+==External links==
-* '''Frith''', H.J.; Rome, F.H.J.C. & Wolfe, T.O. (1976): Food of fruit-pigeons in New Guinea. ''[[Emu (journal)|Emu]]'' '''76'''(2): 49-58. <!-- <small>{{doi|doi:10.1071/MU9760049}}</small> [apparently broken] -->[http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/96/paper/MU9760049.htm HTML abstract]
+*{{wplink}}
-[[Category:Moraceae|Fig, Weeping]]
+<!--  in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions!    -->