Weeping Fig
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Urticales Family: Moraceae Genus: Ficus Species: F. benjamina
Binomial name
Ficus benjamina L.

The Weeping Fig or Benjamin's Fig (Ficus benjamina, Ficus benjamini) is a species of fig tree, native to south and southeast Asia south to northern Australia. It is the official tree of Bangkok, Thailand. It is a tree reaching 30 m tall in natural conditions, with gracefully drooping branchlets and glossy leaves 6-13 cm long, oval with an acuminate tip. In its native range, its small fruit are a favorite food of some birds, such as the Superb Fruit-dove, Wompoo Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Ornate Fruit-dove, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Torresian Imperial-pigeon, Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon (Frith et al. 1976). Download high resolution version (1500x1014, 170 KB)Photographer: Copyright Thorfinn Stainforth 2003; released under GNU; leaves of a Ficus benjamina plant File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Plant (disambiguation). ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms or Magnoliophyta) are one of the major groups of modern plants, comprising those that produce seeds in specialized reproductive organs called flowers, where the ovulary or carpel is enclosed. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class of flowering plants. ... The Urticales are an order of dicotyledons in the Cronquist system of classification for flowering plants, including the following families: Barbeyaceae Cannabaceae (hemp family) Cecropiaceae Moraceae (mulberry family) Physenaceae Ulmaceae (elm family) Urticaceae (nettle family) These range from small herbaceous plants to large trees, blooming from the late spring to... Genera Antiaris Artocarpus - Breadfruit, Jackfruit Brosimum Broussonetia - Paper Mulberry Castilloa Cecropia Chlorophora Dorstenia Ficus - Fig, Banyan Maclura - Osage-orange Morus - Mulberry Musanga Pseudolmedia Streblus Treculia The flowering plant family Moraceae (Mulberry family) comprises some 40 genera and over 1000 species of plants widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less common... “Fig” redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis- Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina- Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica- Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus coronata Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus macrophylla- Moreton Bay Fig Ficus microcarpa- Chinese... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... Location within in Thailand Coordinates: , Country Settled Ayutthaya Period Founded as capital 21 April 1782 Government  - Type Special administrative area  - Governer Apirak Kosayothin Area  - City 1,568. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth. ... Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Binomial name Ptilinopus superbus Temminck, 1809 The Superb Fruit-dove, Ptilinopus superbus (also known as Purple-crowned Fruit-dove), is a medium-sized, up to 23cm long, colourful fruit-dove in the family Columbidae. ... Binomial name Ptilinopus magnificus Temminck, 1821 Synonyms Megaloprepia magnificus The Wompoo Fruit-dove, Ptilinopus magnificus (also known as Magnificent Fruit-dove or Purple-breasted Fruit-dove), is the largest of fruit-doves native to New Guinea and Australia. ... Binomial name (Temminck, 1835) The Pink-spotted Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus perlatus) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. ... Binomial name (Schlegel, 1871) The Ornate Fruit-dove (Ptilinopus ornatus) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. ... Binomial name Gray, 1858 The Orange-bellied Fruit-Dove, Ptilinopus iozonus, is a small (21 cm in length) pigeon with mainly green plumage, distinguished by a large orange patch on the lower breast and belly, a small lilac shoulder patch, pale yellow undertail coverts, and a grey terminal band on... Binomial name (Gray, 1858) Synonyms Ducula constans Bruce, 1989 The Torresian Imperial-pigeon (Ducula spilorrhoa) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. ... Binomial name (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830) The Purple-tailed Imperial-pigeon (Ducula rufigaster) is a species of bird in the Columbidae family. ...

Cultivation

In tropical latitudes, the Weeping Fig makes a very large and stately tree for parks and other urban situations, such as wide roads. It is often cultivated for this purpose.

It is a very popular house plant in temperate areas, due to its elegant growth and tolerance of poor growing conditions; it does best under bright, sunny conditions but will also tolerate considerable shade. It requires a moderate amount of watering in summer, and only enough to keep it from drying out in the winter. It does not need to be misted. The plant is sensitive to cold and should be protected from strong drafts. When grown indoors, it can grow too large for its situation, and may need drastic pruning or replacing. A houseplant is a plant that one grows in a dwelling, such as a house or office. ... For other uses, see Summer (disambiguation). ... Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. ...

The leaves are very sensitive to small changes in light. When it is re-located it reacts by dropping many of its leaves and replacing them with new leaves adapted to the new light intensity.^[1]

Destructive Roots

The United States Forest Service [1] in Fact Sheet ST-251 states "Roots grow rapidly invading gardens, growing under and lifting sidewalks, patios, and driveways." They conclude its use in tree form is much too large for residential planting, therefore in these settings, this species should only be used as a hedge or clipped screen.

References

1. ^ {{cite web|url=http://home.ivillage.com/gardening/househerbs/0,,mm2k,00.html] There are numerous cultivars available (e.g. 'Danielle', 'Naomi', 'Exotica', and 'Golden King'). Some cultivars include different patterns of colouration on the leaves, ranging from light green to dark green, and various forms of white variegation. This plant, along with the banyan, are the most commonly used for "indoor" bonsai. This is due to their tolerance of the common household environment. Weeping Fig has been shown by NASA to effectively filter indoor air toxins.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/ssctrs.ssc.nasa.gov/foliage_air/foliage_air.pdf|title=Foliage Plants for Removing Indoor Air Pollutants from Energy-efficient Homes|author=B. C. Wolverton, Rebecca C. McDonald, and E. A. Watkins, Jr|accessdate=2007-05-03}}</li></ol></ref>
   • Frith, H.J.; Rome, F.H.J.C. & Wolfe, T.O. (1976): Food of fruit-pigeons in New Guinea. Emu 76(2): 49-58. HTML abstract