Ficus
(the old Latin name, akin to the Greek sfukon or sukon, a fig; the Fig-tree. ORD. Urticaceae. An extensive genus of usually stove or greenhouse trees or shrubs. Flowers monoecious, inserted upon the interior surface of a hollow, globular or pear-shaped fleshy receptacle, in whose tip is an orifice closed with small scales; those in the upper part male, the rest female. Very ornamental plants of easy culture. They are readily propagated by cuttings or eyes, having a leaf attached in the case of the evergreen species, inserted in a close frame inside a propagating house, in early spring. F. elastica is one of the most ornamental and extensively-grown species, and a plant that withstands confinement in rooms better, perhaps than any other. It is also well adapted for stove or greenhouse decoration, and for sub-tropical gardening in summer outside. Shoots 1ft. long, if furnished with leaves, soon root, and form useful plants much quicker than eyes, which, however, have the advantage of increasing a much larger quantity. Small specimens are most attractive when restricted to a single stem. These may be afterwards grown into tall branched plants if desired, by keeping them several years and pinching out the points. F. Chauvieri is a fine species that forms a large bush, even when grown in a comparatively small pot. It succeeds well in a greenhouse, and also outside in summer. Any of the species of Ficus do well in sandy loam, with addition of a little leaf soil, and only small pots, in comparison to the size of plant, need be used. plenty of syringing, or occasional sponging, will keep the leaves clean, and almost any amount of water may be applied to the roots. The species which grow on walls are the best of inside, plants that could be used for the purpose, as, once started, they soon cover a considerable space and always present a lively green appearance. For culture of F. Carica,
F. acuminata (sharp-pointed). fl. perianth three-cleft or three-partite, with the segments lanceolate and acuminated. Receptacle solitary, axillary, globose, pendent, of a deep bright orange colour, somewhat mealy and tuberculated on the surface, and terminating a stalk longer than itself. l. 4in. or 5in., long, somewhat coriaceous, elliptical, petiolated, veiny glabrous above and full green, downy beneath, with the veins prominent. Stem (under cultivation in this country) 5ft. to 6ft. high. Silhet, 1833. (B. M. 3282.) F. barbata (bearded). fl. l. dark green, cordate, about 3in., long; apex elongated; edges clothed with long brown hairs. East Indies, 1832. A handsome plant for covering the walls of stoves; it has a creeping and rooting habit, similar to Ivy.
F. benjamina. Benjamin-tree. Receptacles solitary, or in pairs, globular, about 1/2in. in diameter, when ripe. l. ovate, or ovate-oblong, acuminate, shortly stalked, 2in. to 4in. long, entire, thinly coriaceous, with numerous rather fine, parallel primary veins. Tropical Asia, Australia. A large elegant greenhouse tree, with slender pendulous branches, quite glabrous.
F. Brassii (Brass's).* l. somewhat fiddle-shaped, rich deep green. Stems and petioles ferruginously tomentose. Sierra Leone. A free, erect-growing species, equally suited for stove greenhouse, or sub-tropical purposes.
F.Carica (Carian).* Common Fig-tree. l. simple, alternate, stipulate, palmate and sub-trilobate, rough above, pubescent beneath. h. 15ft. to 30ft. Mediterranean region, &c., 1548. For culture, &c.,
F. Chauvieri (Chauvier's).* l. oval-obtuse, very dark shining green, with pale yellow veins, having one or more large marginal undulations. This is described as being a noble species, with a faultless habit and, next to F. elastica, is the best for outside culture in summer.
F. comosa (tufted). Female florets pedicellate, growing amongst long, narrow, acuminate, chaffy, white scales; male florets trifid, the divisions more acute than in the female. Receptacles obovate-globose, small, the size of large peas, produced singly or more often in pairs, from the axils of the petioles on the terminal branchlets. l. very smooth and shining, dark green above, pale beneath, coriaceous and thickish, entire, with a sharp, thin, pellucid edge. Trunk rather slender, about 1ft. in diameter, soon dividing into numerous spreading, or even declining branches. Branches slender, bearing conglomerate masses of leaves towards their ends. h. 40ft. India. A very handsome greenhouse tree. (B. M. 3305.) F. Cooperi (Cooper's).* l. dark green, ovate, 1ft. or more long, 3in, to 4in. wide. Probably Australia. A good ornamental-leaved plant for either stove or greenhouse decoration.
F. dealbata (whitened).* l. elliptic, about 1ft. long by 6in. broad, coriaceous, deep green above, and, from the presence of a thick coat of silky hairs beneath, the under side is of snowy whiteness, which is particularly conspicuous in the young unfolding leaves. Peru, 1867. A very distinct and beautiful greenhouse species. (I. H. 1870, 4.)
F. diversifolia (opposite-leaved).* l. leathery, rounded above, narrowed into short stalk below, upper surface bright green, dotted with light brown specks; lower pale green. A compact grower, well adapted for general decorative purposes. Greenhouse. (G. C. 1881, xvi. 247.)
F. eburnea (ivory).* l. oblong-ovate, petiolate, about 15in., long, 9in. broad, bright shining green, with stout ivory-white midribs and principal veins. India, 1869. A fine free-growing greenhouse species.
F. elastica (elastic).* Indiarubber Plant. l. coriaceous, 6in. to 18in. long, and 3in. to 6in. broad; upper surface dark bright shining green, yellowish-green below. East Indies, 1815. This splendid plant is very largely grown, both for indoor decoration and for sub-tropical gardening. (G. C. 1874, ii. 358.)
F. e. foliis aureo-marginatis (gold-margined-leaved). A very effective variety with golden-edged leaves, especially in autumn, when it has become full-coloured. The yellow band is about 1in. broad, contrasting beautifully with the dark shining green of the center. Greenhouse. There are also other variegated forms of less value.
F. exsculpta (cut-out).* l. shortly stalked, lanceolate in outline, sinuately lobed; lobes again sinuate so as to produce a prettily cut margin. South Sea Islands, 1879. A very handsome stove evergreen, the curious crenations giving the leaf the appearance of having been stamped or punched out. See fig. 12, for which we are indebted to Mr. Wm. Bull.
F. glomerata (glomerate). l. thin, elliptic, acuminate, 6in. to 8in. long, 2in., broad, on long petioles. Stems terete, finely pubescent. Australia, 1869. A free-growing greenhouse species, of slender habit. SYN. F. vesca.
F. macrophylla (large-leaved).* Australian Banyan; Moreton Bay Fig. l. thin, coriaceous, glossy, ovate-oblong, entire, cordate at the base, 4in. to 10in. 3in. to 4in. broad; veins slightly elevated on both surfaces; petioles smooth, 1in. to 2in. long. Queensland and New South Wales, 1869. Greenhouse.
F. minima (smaller). See F. stipulata.
F. Parcelli (Parcell's).* l. oblong-acuminate, serrated, bright green irregularly blotched with dark green and ivory-white. polynesia, 1874. A very ornamental variegated stove plant. (F. d. S. 2273-4.)
F. religiosa (religious). Peepul. l. bright green, nearly cordate; apex elongated into a tail-like process. h. 25ft. East Indies, 1731. A handsome stove plant for decorative purposes, forming itself into a compact bush. (B. E. S. 314.)
F. repens (creeping). A synonym of F. stipulata.
F. Roxburghii (Roxburgh's) fl. green. fr. collected in bundles of eight to twelve near root, turnip-shaped, ribbed, villous, having umbilicus closed by numerous cordate imbricate scales. l. large smooth, roundish-cordate, three-nerved, downy on the nerves beneath. Sometimes repandly toothed. h. 20ft. Silhet, 1840. Greenhouse.( R. H. 1872, 385.) F. rubiginosa, (rusty-leaved). fl., perianth three-parted; segments roundish-oval, concave. Receptacle greenish-brown, globose, with an obtuse umbo at the point, the surface granulated with small tubercles. l. numerous, handsome, 3in. to 4in. long, coriaceous, elliptical, quite entire, on petioles about 1in. long, obtuse at the point and at the base; when young, covered, especially on the under side with a ferruginous down; the older ones are glabrous except on the nerves beneath., Branch spreading, numerous. New South Wales, 1827. A small stove tree. (B. M. 2939.)
F. scandens (climbing). A synonym of F. stipulata.
F. stipulata (stipulate).* l. small, roundish, dark green. A very handsome little climber, attaching itself to walls, &c., like Ivy. It is half-hardy, and is frequently seen in greenhouse. China and Japan, 1721. SYNS. F. repens and F. scandens. (B. M. 6657.) F. minima, and other small-leaved forms, are only slender-twigged, extensively creeping states of barren young plants of F. stipulata.
F. Suringarii (Suringar's). l. large, cordate, serrate; upper surface rich dark green; main ribs deep red. Amboyna, 1866. An ornamental erect-growing stove species.
F. vesca (weak). A synonym of F. glomerata.