KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0
About
Also known by common names such as Chinese banyan or Indian laurel, *Ficus microcarpa* is a large, tropical banyan tree prized by hobbyists for its impressive growth habit, including numerous aerial roots that develop into prop roots. It is highly adaptable, thriving in urban settings and container culture.
Field notes
Morphology
The leaves are narrowly to broadly elliptic, measuring up to 12 cm long by 9 cm wide. They are glabrous and feature 5–9 pairs of main lateral veins on either side of the midrib, forming distinct loops within the leaf margin. The tree can grow to 25–35 m tall and develops innumerable aerial roots.
Distribution & habitat
Native to tropical Asia, including India, China, Japan, and throughout Southeast Asia, extending to the Western Pacific and Australia. It is a tropical and subtropical species that prefers low elevations.
Ecology
The species is associated with the pollinating fig wasp, *Eupristina verticillata*. Its fruits and leaves are attractive to various avian wildlife, including species of birds and the parrot *Aratinga leucophthalmus*. It is also noted for its ability to tolerate urban pollutants like sulfur dioxide, lead, and cadmium.
Cultivation notes
It is widely cultivated as an ornamental tree for gardens, parks, and as an indoor plant or bonsai specimen. It prefers high humidity (70% - 100%) and can be easily propagated by cuttings in water or potting soil. It is suitable for temperatures above 20 °C year-round.
History & etymology
The species was first described in 1782 by Carl Linnaeus the Younger. In 1960, the variety known as Hill's weeping fig was reassigned to *Ficus microcarpa* as *F. microcarpa var. hillii*.
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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