Greening - Tree Labels with QR Codes (16)

Weeping Fig

Scientific Name : Ficus benjamina L.
Common Name : Weeping Fig
Chinese Name : 垂葉榕, 垂榕, 白榕
Family : MORACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species

Anecdotes on plants

video

Origins	South to Southwest China, and South Asia to Australia.
Applications	Weeping Fig is a common street tree which can provide shade for pedestrians. Cultivar “Variegated Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina L. ‘Varigata’)” is also commonly seen in Hong Kong, which leaf margin shows yellowish white patches.
Meanings of names	The word “Droop (垂)” in its Chinese name “Droop-leaves Fig (垂葉榕)” actually refers to the drooping branchlets rather than the leaves. As the branchlets droop, the leaves appear to be drooped as well. Conversely, its English name “Weeping Fig” seems to be more realistic, depicting the branchlets of the species which are hanging down. The Chinese name “White Fig (白榕)” describes its bark in the colour of greyish white.
Weeping Fig & Chinese Banyan	These two species are both common street trees in Hong Kong. Ascribed by their similar size, many citizens may easily get confused between the two. Actually, the most distinctive difference could be seen from their leaves. The leaves of Weeping Fig bear a “tail” at the apex, while the leaf apex of Chinese Banyan is obtuse!

Traits for identification

Growing habit	Evergreen tree. Entire plant contains milky latex.
Height	To 20 m.
Roots	Always show buttress roots.
Stems	Bark of trunk grey to greyish white. Old branches always bear pendulous aerial roots, which lignify after reaching the ground, and grows into new supporting branches. Branchlets pendulous.
Leaves	Thinly leathery, ovate to ovate-elliptic, shiny and smooth, with abruptly acuminate apex. Lateral veins anastomosing (connected) at margins. Stipule lanceolate, caducous, can be seen at the apex of young branchlets.
Flowers	Fig (as hypanthodium structurally), globose to compressed-globose, paired or solitary.
Fruits	Fig (as syconium with numerous achenes structurally). Yellow, orange to purplish red when mature, smooth.
Flowering period	September to November in Hong Kong.
Fruiting period	September to November in Hong Kong.

Overview of <em>Ficus benjamina</em> L.

Trunk of <em>Ficus benjamina</em> L.

Bark of trunk greyish white.

Ovate to ovate-elliptic, shiny and smooth, with abruptly acuminate apex. Lateral veins connected at margins.

Very young leaves white.

Figs, globose, paired or solitary.

Figs orange yellow to purplish red when mature, smooth.

A Red-Whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus (Linnaeus, 1758)) feed on the fig of <em>Ficus benjamina</em> L.

Stipule lanceolate, seen at the apex of young branchlets.

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Remarks

Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website : https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=6897

Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China : Ficus benjamina Linnaeus
― Plants of the World Online : Ficus benjamina L.

Reference

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD). (2018). A Photographic Guide to Common Urban Trees of Hong Kong. 3^rd edition. Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Hong Kong. ISBN: 978-988-12021-3-0.
Beentjie, H. (2016). The Kew Plant Glossary. 2^nd edition, 1^st in 2012. Kew Publishing, Royal Botanical Garden, Surrey, U.K. ISBN: 978-1-84246-604-9.
eFloras. (2008). Ficus benjamina Linnaeus. Flora of China. [Online Edition]. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 26^th March 2020, from: http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200006350
Greening, Landscape and Tree Management Section (GLTMS), Development Bureau. (2016). Ficus benjamina 'Variegata'. Tree. Pictorial Guide to Plant Resources for Skyrise Greenery in Hong Kong. Skyrise Greenery. Green Technologies. Retrieved 4^th January 2021, from: https://www.greening.gov.hk/filemanager/greening/common/pdf/green_technologies/guide/6_Ficus_benjamina_Variegata.pdf
Hong Kong Herbarium, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department & South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences. (2007-2011). Ficus benjamina L. 垂葉榕. Flora of Hong Kong. [Online Edition]. Retrieved 26^th March 2020, from: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/FloraOfHK/Species/6897/6897_S_E.pdf
The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). (1992). The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. The Macmillan Press Limited, London & The Stockton Press, New York. ISBN: 1-56159-001-0.
Shiu-Ying Hu Herbarium. (2020). Ficus microcarpa L.f. 細葉榕. Pro-Factsheet. Taxonomical Archive System. Wu Jieh Yee Charitable Foundation Native Plant Resources and Database in Hong Kong. Retrieved 24^th March 2020, from: https://syhuherbarium.sls.cuhk.edu.hk/collections/factsheet-pro/ficus-microcarpa/
中國科學院仙湖植物園。（2017）。《深圳植物誌》（第1卷）。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-8951-6。
中國科學院植物誌編輯委員會。（1959-2004）。〈垂葉榕Ficus benjamina Linn.〉。《中國植物誌》。[網上版本]。於2020年3月26日擷取自 : http://www.iplant.cn/info/Ficus%20benjamina?t=z
中國科學院華南植物園。（1987）。《廣東植物誌》（第1卷）。廣州 : 廣東科技出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5359-5079-6。
深圳市人民政府城市管理辦公室、深圳市仙湖植物園、深圳市城市管理科學研究所。（1998）。《深圳園林植物》。北京 : 中國林業出版社。國際標準書號 : 978-7-5038-2149-3。
漁農自然護理署香港植物標本室、中國科學院華南植物園。（2015）。《香港植物誌》（第1卷）。香港 : 漁農自然護理署。國際標準書號 : 978-988-12021-9-2。