Ficus platypoda

Botanical Description

Ficus platypoda is a small, robust tree with a spreading crown; it can grow up to 9 metres tall[ 285 Title Florabase Publication Author Website https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database of Western Australian plants , 286 Title Flora of Australia Publication Author Website http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/abif/flora/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description The full information from the Flora of Australia - on-line. An excellent resource. ]. The plant often begins life as an epiphyte or growing in rocks[ 713 Title Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Publication Author Website http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest. ]. When growing in the branch of another tree; it can send down aerial roots as it grows older which, when they reach the ground quickly form roots and become much thicker and more vigorous. They supply nutrients to the fig, allowing it to grow faster than the host tree. These aerial roots gradually encircle the host tree, preventing its main trunk from expanding, whilst at the same time the foliage smothers the foliage of the host. Eventually the host dies, leaving the fig to carry on growing without competition[ 713 Title Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants Publication Author Website http://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/cd-keys/rfk/index.html Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An online resource giving botanical information, and a little bit about plant usage, for over 2,700 species of plants found in the Australian rainforest. ]. The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of fibre.