Ficus benjamina
Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina )
The weeping fig (Ficus benjamina ), also called " Benjamini ," a species of the family of the Mulberry family is ( Moraceae ). This species is in Nepal, northern India, Bangladesh, Burma, southern China, home of Malaysia to the Solomon Islands and northern tropical Australia. The varieties of this species are planted throughout the tropics as an ornamental along roads, in parks and gardens. They are also wild from there. Their varieties are popular house plants.
Description
The weeping fig grows as evergreen shrub or tree that usually reaches stature heights of 8 meters, but can be much higher, with trunk diameters of 30 to 50 cm. The bark is light gray and smooth. The bark of young twigs is brownish. The wide- spread, strongly branching tree crown often covered diameter of 10 meters. Already the young branches hang over. It is a relatively small-leaved Feigenart. The change-constant leaves are simple, entire and petiolate. The petiole is 1 to 2.5 cm long. The young foliage is bright green and slightly wavy, the older leaves are green and smooth; the leaf blade is ovate - oval to ovate - lanceolate with wedge-shaped to broadly rounded base and ends with a brief Träufelspitze. The slightly glossy to matte leaf blade is 5-12 cm long and 2-6 cm wide. Near the leaf margins are yellow crystal cells ( " Cystolithe "). The two membranous, deciduous stipules are not adherent, lanceolate and 6 to 12 mm (rarely up to 15 mm ) long.
Ficus benjamina is monoecious getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ). In the leaf axils in pairs sit sessile inflorescences ( the Pseudanthium the Moraceae is " Hypanthodium " called ). They are globose - ovate, glossy green and have a diameter of 1.5 cm. In the inflorescences are three types of flowers: male, female, fertile and sterile flowers. The scattered in the inflorescence standing, stalked, male flowers have free sepals and stamen. In an inflorescence are many fertile female flowers, they are sessile and have three to four sepals and an egg-shaped ovary. The more or less lateral style ends in an enlarged scar. Also located in each inflorescence many sterile " Gallblüten ".
The ripe figs ( fruit collection ) are orange - red and have a diameter of 2 to 2.5 cm.
Risk of allergies and toxicity
Since it can be a trigger allergic reactions including anaphylactic reactions to latex allergy, they should avoid him.
Ficus species such as the weeping fig are slightly toxic. The consumption of plant parts leads to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
System
Ficus benjamina belongs to the subgenus Urostigma ( Gasparrini ) Miq. in the genus Ficus L..
It will be offered as ornamental plants many varieties, these are often with different names in the trade, partly with the synonyms of the species, but in some cases these refer to completely different species of the genus Ficus. Ficus benjamina L. are synonyms for: Ficus comosa Roxb, Ficus nitida Thunb, Ficus pyrifolia Salisb, Ficus retusa nitida var ( Thunb. ) Miq ... ..
Swell
- Abdul Ghafoor: Ficus benjamina in the Flora of Pakistan: Online.
- Zhengyi Wu, Zhe - Kun Zhou & Michael G. Gilbert: Moraceae in the Flora of China, Volume 5, page 45: Ficus benjamina - Online.