# Moreton Bay fig (*Ficus macrophylla*) The Moreton Bay fig is a big, beautiful tree with wide branches and large, glossy leaves. It can grow very tall and provides shade for people and animals alike. - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Moreton Bay fig](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Moretonbayfigfrom1850.JPG&width=800) Photo: User DO'Neil on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Moretonbayfigfrom1850.JPG) ## Appearance The Moreton Bay fig has a colossal, spreading canopy of glossy, dark green leaves atop a massive trunk with dramatic buttress roots. Its bark is smooth grey, and it produces small, purple-red figs hidden amongst the foliage, often with aerial roots descending from branches. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Moraceae - **Genus:** Ficus ## Interesting facts - Each fig you see is actually hundreds of tiny flowers growing on the inside! - Its strong roots can grow so thick and wide they look like giant walls around the tree! - Some Moreton Bay figs can weigh as much as 10 elephants, making them super heavy! - This tree's leaves stay green all year long, providing constant shade and beauty! ## Special abilities - **Rooty Support:** Moreton Bay fig has enormous buttress roots that provide incredible stability for its giant size, preventing it from toppling over. - **Host Hugger:** This fig can grow as a 'strangler' by germinating on other trees, sending roots down to the ground, eventually outcompeting its host for light. - **Wasp Partner:** Moreton Bay fig has a special partnership with a tiny fig wasp that helps it reproduce by pollinating its unique, inside-out flowers (figs). ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 m - **Spread:** 30-60 m - **Edible:** Yes - **Size:** 100-2000 cm - **Lifespan:** 100-300 years - **Fruit Type:** Fig (syconium) - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Evergreen ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Moreton Bay Fig Wasp (*Pleistodontes imperialis*) — essential for reproduction - **Eats:** Grey-headed Flying Fox (*Pteropus poliocephalus*) — consumes figs, disperses seeds - **Eats:** Brown Cuckoo-Dove (*Macropygia phasianella*) — feeds on figs, helps dispersal - **Eats:** Emerald Dove (*Chalcophaps longirostris*) — relies on figs for food ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths and don't climb trees without an adult's help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Moreton Bay fig? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Moreton Bay fig? 30-60 m ### How wide does Moreton Bay fig spread? 30-60 m ### Is Moreton Bay fig edible? Yes ### How big is Moreton Bay fig? 100-2000 cm ### How long does Moreton Bay fig live? 100-300 years ### Where is Moreton Bay fig usually found? Urban areas ### What kind of fruit does Moreton Bay fig produce? Fig (syconium) ## Where to spot - [La Concepción Botanical-Historical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/la-concepcion-botanical-historical-garden) — Andalucía, ES · Park - [Floridablanca Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/floridablanca-garden-murcia) — Región de Murcia, ES · Park - [Jardín del Turia](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jard-n-del-turia) — Spain, ES · Park [View all places to see Moreton Bay fig](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/moreton-bay-fig) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Moreton Bay fig: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/moreton-bay-fig)