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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Port Jackson Fig
| image = Port Jackson Fig detail.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Port Jackson Fig leaves and fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Urticales]]
| familia = [[Moraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Ficus]]''
| species = '''''F. rubiginosa'''''
| binomial = ''Ficus rubiginosa''
| binomial_authority = [[René Louiche Desfontaines|Desf.]] ex [[Étienne Pierre Ventenat|Vent.]]
}}
The '''Port Jackson Fig''' (''Ficus rubiginosa'') , also known as the '''Little-leaf Fig''' or the '''Rusty Fig''', is a native of eastern [[Australia]] and a [[banyan]] of the genus ''[[Ficus]]'' which contains over 600 species worldwide in warm climates, including the [[Common Fig|edible fig]] (''Ficus carica'').
Well known in parks and public gardens in east coast towns and cities, it is also a valuable plant for wildlife and habitat. Like all figs it requires pollination by a particular wasp species to set seed. This actually occurs fairly readily as fig seedlings are a common site in walls, cracks, crevices and buildings in urban areas of cities such as [[Sydney]].
It was known as '''damun''' (pron. "tam-mun") to the local [[Eora]] and [[Darug]]
inhabitants of the Sydney basin.<ref>{{cite book|author=Troy, Jakelin|year=1993|title=The sydney language|publisher=Jakelin Troy, Canberra}}</ref>
==Description==
[[image:Port Jackson Fig.jpg|thumb|left|Port Jackson Fig]]
It is slow growing, reaching 7-15 metres in height when mature, forming a spreading densely shading tree. Its appearance is that of a small version of its relative the [[Moreton Bay Fig]], the Port Jackson being generally smaller, with smaller fruit and leaves. Having similar ranges in the wild they are often confused, the rusty colour of the undersides of the leaves of the Port Jackson Fig being the easiest distinguishing feature.
In tropical and humid climates, the lower branches of the Port Jackson Fig may form aerial roots which strike root upon reaching to the ground, forming secondary root systems. This process is known as ''banyaning'' after the [[banyan]] tree of which it is a characteristic.
==Ecology==
It is [[pollination|pollinated]] by a [[symbiosis|symbiotic]] relationship with a [[wasp]] species (''Pleistodontes imperialis'') The fertilised female wasp enters the receptive 'fig' (the syconium) through a tiny hole at the crown (the ostiole). She crawls around the [[inflorescence]]d interior of the fig, pollinating some of the female flowers. She then lays her eggs inside some of the flowers and dies. After several weeks development in their galls, the male wasps emerge before the females. They chew holes in the galls containing females and fertilise them through the hole they have just chewed. Males return later to mated females, and enlarge the mating holes to enable the females to emerge. Some males then chew their way through the syconium wall, which allows the females to disperse after collecting pollen from the now fully developed male flowers. Females then have a short time (< 48 hours) to find a tree with receptive syconia to successfully reproduce and disperse pollen.
==Cultivation==
It is commonly used as a large [[ornamental plant|ornamental tree]] in eastern Australia, in parts of New Zealand, and also in [[Hawaii]] and [[California]] in the [[USA]], where it is also listed as an [[invasive species]] in some areas. Despite the size of the leaves, it is popular for [[bonsai]] work as it is extremely forgiving to work with and hard to kill.
It is very easily propagated by cuttings.
==See also==
*Gardner R.O., Early J.W. [http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjb/1996/115.php ''The naturalisation of banyan figs (Ficus spp., Moraceae) and their pollinating wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) in New Zealand''] New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1996, Vol. 34: 103-110
== References ==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
*[http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2003/archives/2003/in_the_garden/gardening_tips,_books,_techniques_and_tools/figs_with_maggots2 Burke's Backyard 2003 - Figs with Maggots] (sic.)
* http://www.anbg.gov.au/images/photo_cd/732131822186/084.html
*[http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/sydney_gardens_domain/visitor_information/walks_and_tours/aboriginal_walk#port Uses of Port Jackson Fig to Aboriginal Australians]
*http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=507896 ITIS 507896
</div>
[[Category:Ficus|Fig, Port Jackson]]
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Plants and pollinators]]
[[Category:Trees of Australia]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = Port Jackson Fig
| image = Port Jackson Fig detail.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Port Jackson Fig leaves and fruit
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Urticales]]
| familia = [[Moraceae]]
| genus = ''[[Ficus]]''
| species = '''''F. rubiginosa'''''
| binomial = ''Ficus rubiginosa''
| binomial_authority = [[René Louiche Desfontaines|Desf.]] ex [[Étienne Pierre Ventenat|Vent.]]
}}
The '''Port Jackson Fig''' (''Ficus rubiginosa'') , also known as the '''Little-leaf Fig''' or the '''Rusty Fig''', is a native of eastern [[Australia]] and a [[banyan]] of the genus ''[[Ficus]]'' which contains over 600 species worldwide in warm climates, including the [[Common Fig|edible fig]] (''Ficus carica'').
Well known in parks and public gardens in east coast towns and cities, it is also a valuable plant for wildlife and habitat. Like all figs it requires pollination by a particular wasp species to set seed. This actually occurs fairly readily as fig seedlings are a common site in walls, cracks, crevices and buildings in urban areas of cities such as [[Sydney]].
It was known as '''damun''' (pron. "tam-mun") to the local [[Eora]] and [[Darug]]
inhabitants of the Sydney basin.<ref>{{cite book|author=Troy, Jakelin|year=1993|title=The sydney language|publisher=Jakelin Troy, Canberra}}</ref>
==Description==
[[image:Port Jackson Fig.jpg|thumb|left|Port Jackson Fig]]
It is slow growing, reaching 7-15 metres in height when mature, forming a spreading densely shading tree. Its appearance is that of a small version of its relative the [[Moreton Bay Fig]], the Port Jackson being generally smaller, with smaller fruit and leaves. Having similar ranges in the wild they are often confused, the rusty colour of the undersides of the leaves of the Port Jackson Fig being the easiest distinguishing feature.
In tropical and humid climates, the lower branches of the Port Jackson Fig may form aerial roots which strike root upon reaching to the ground, forming secondary root systems. This process is known as ''banyaning'' after the [[banyan]] tree of which it is a characteristic.
==Ecology==
It is [[pollination|pollinated]] by a [[symbiosis|symbiotic]] relationship with a [[wasp]] species (''Pleistodontes imperialis'') The fertilised female wasp enters the receptive 'fig' (the syconium) through a tiny hole at the crown (the ostiole). She crawls around the [[inflorescence]]d interior of the fig, pollinating some of the female flowers. She then lays her eggs inside some of the flowers and dies. After several weeks development in their galls, the male wasps emerge before the females. They chew holes in the galls containing females and fertilise them through the hole they have just chewed. Males return later to mated females, and enlarge the mating holes to enable the females to emerge. Some males then chew their way through the syconium wall, which allows the females to disperse after collecting pollen from the now fully developed male flowers. Females then have a short time (< 48 hours) to find a tree with receptive syconia to successfully reproduce and disperse pollen.
==Cultivation==
It is commonly used as a large [[ornamental plant|ornamental tree]] in eastern Australia, in parts of New Zealand, and also in [[Hawaii]] and [[California]] in the [[USA]], where it is also listed as an [[invasive species]] in some areas. Despite the size of the leaves, it is popular for [[bonsai]] work as it is extremely forgiving to work with and hard to kill.
It is very easily propagated by cuttings.
==See also==
*Gardner R.O., Early J.W. [http://www.rsnz.org/publish/nzjb/1996/115.php ''The naturalisation of banyan figs (Ficus spp., Moraceae) and their pollinating wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) in New Zealand''] New Zealand Journal of Botany, 1996, Vol. 34: 103-110
== References ==
<div class="references-small">
<references/>
*[http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/2003/archives/2003/in_the_garden/gardening_tips,_books,_techniques_and_tools/figs_with_maggots2 Burke's Backyard 2003 - Figs with Maggots] (sic.)
* http://www.anbg.gov.au/images/photo_cd/732131822186/084.html
*[http://www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/sydney_gardens_domain/visitor_information/walks_and_tours/aboriginal_walk#port Uses of Port Jackson Fig to Aboriginal Australians]
*http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=507896 ITIS 507896
</div>
[[Category:Ficus|Fig, Port Jackson]]
[[Category:Flora of Australia]]
[[Category:Plants and pollinators]]
[[Category:Trees of Australia]]
