Ficus virens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ficus virens |
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| Curtain Fig Tree, Atherton Tableland | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Ficus
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| Species: |
virens
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| Synonyms | |
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Ficus infectoria (Miq.) Miq., Ficus cunninghamii |
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Ficus virens is a fascinating plant from the Ficus family. You can find it growing in warm places like India, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, and even Northern Australia. It's often called the white fig. In some areas, it has special local names like pilkhan or manbornde in the Kunwinjku language. Just like many other fig trees, its fruits are safe to eat!
One of the most famous Ficus virens trees is the amazing Curtain Fig Tree located in the Atherton Tableland, near Cairns, Australia. It's a very popular spot for tourists to visit. Another well-known example is the Tree of Knowledge in Darwin, Australia.
A special kind of Ficus virens, called Ficus virens var. sublanceolata, grows in the subtropical rainforests of northeastern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland in Australia.
Contents
Discovering the White Fig Tree
The white fig is a medium-sized tree. It can grow to be about 24 to 27 meters (around 79 to 89 feet) tall in dry areas. In places with more rain, it can reach up to 32 meters (about 105 feet) high.
How Strangler Figs Grow
This fig tree belongs to a group called strangler figs. This name might sound a bit scary, but it describes how they grow! Their seeds often land on other trees. The fig seed then sprouts and sends roots down the host tree's trunk. As the fig tree grows bigger and stronger, its roots and branches wrap around the host tree. Eventually, the fig tree can completely surround and even cause the host tree to die, taking its place.
Growth Cycles and New Leaves
In India, the white fig tree has two main times when it grows a lot. One is in the spring, from February to early May. The other is during the monsoon rains, from June to early September. When new leaves appear, they are a beautiful reddish-pink color. They look very pretty and add a splash of color to the forest.
The Tree's Impressive Size
Ficus virens can become a very massive tree. Sometimes, the wide spread of its branches, called the crown, can be even wider than the tree is tall! This makes it a truly impressive sight in the landscape.
Using Fig Leaves as Food
The leaves of the white fig tree are used as food in some cultures. In Thai cuisine, they are known as phak lueat (Thai: ผักเลือด). People in Northern Thailand often boil these leaves and eat them as a vegetable. They are a common ingredient in Northern Thai curries, where they are called phak hueat (ผักเฮือด) in the Northern dialect.
See also
In Spanish: Ficus virens para niños
