Strangler fig

Description

Ficus watkinsiana, commonly known as strangler fig, Watkins' fig, nipple fig or the green-leaved Moreton Bay fig is a hemiepiphytic fig that is endemic to Australia. The species exists in three populations—one in northeast Queensland and the others in southeast Queensland and northeast New South Wales.It also has been introduced to Kauai island (Hawaiʻi). The pollinator of this species in Australia is Pleistodontes nigriventris (Girault).On Kauai island, Port Jackson fig wasps (Pleistodontes imperialis) are able to do the job as substitute pollinators. Ficus watkinsiana is a monoecious tree which grows up to 50 m (160 ft) tall. Its leaves are 51–217 mm (2.0–8.5 in) long and 26–97 mm (1.0–3.8 in) wide. Its figs (syconia) are deep purple to black in colour, 24–37 mm (0.94–1.46 in) long and 18–29 mm (0.71–1.14 in) in diameter. It begins life as a hemiepiphyte.