Weeping fig

Weeping fig
	Weeping fig ( Ficus benjamina )
Systematics
Order :	Rose-like (rosales)
Family :	Mulberry family (Moraceae)
Tribe :	Ficeae
Genre :	Figs ( ficus )
Subgenus :	Urostigma
Type :	Weeping fig
Scientific name
	Ficus benjamina
	L.

The weeping fig ( Ficus benjamina ), also known as "Benjamini", is a species of the mulberry family (Moraceae). This species is native to Nepal , northern India , Bangladesh , Burma , southern China , Malaysia to the Solomon Islands, and northern tropical Australia . The varieties of this species are planted in the entire tropical belt as an ornamental plant on streets, in parks and gardens. They have also run wild from there. Their varieties are popular indoor plants .

description

Branch with "fruits"

The weeping fig grows as an evergreen shrub or tree that usually reaches heights of 8 meters, but can also be much taller, with trunk diameters of 30 to 50 cm. The bark is light gray and smooth. The bark of young branches is brownish. The widely spread, heavily branching tree crown often covers a diameter of 10 meters. The young branches are already hanging over. It is a relatively small-leaved fig species . The alternate leaves are simple, entire and petiolate. The petiole is 1 to 2.5 cm long. The young leaves are light green and somewhat wavy, the older leaves are green and smooth; the leaf blade is ovate-oval to ovate-lanceolate with a wedge-shaped to broadly rounded base and ends with a short tip . The slightly shiny to dull leaf blade is 5 to 12 cm long and 2 to 6 cm wide. There are yellow crystal cells ("cystolites") near the leaf margins . The two membranous, decrepit stipules are not fused, lanceolate and 6 to 12 mm (rarely up to 15 mm) long.

Ficus benjamina is single sexed ( monoecious ). In the leaf axils sit in pairs sessile inflorescences (the Pseudanthium of the Moraceae is called "Hypanthodium"). They are spherical-egg-shaped, shiny green and have a diameter of 1.5 cm. There are three types of flowers in the inflorescences : male, fertile and sterile female flowers. The stalked, male flowers scattered in the inflorescence have free sepals and a stamen . Are in an inflorescence many fertile female flowers, they are sessile and have three to four sepals and an egg-shaped ovary . The more or less lateral style ends in an enlarged scar. In addition, there are many sterile "gall flowers" in each inflorescence.

The ripe figs (collective fruit) are orange-red and have a diameter of 2 to 2.5 cm.

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 26.

health

Since the plant sap can trigger allergic reactions up to anaphylactic reactions in latex allergy sufferers , they should avoid coming into contact with the sap, for example when cutting the plant.

Ficus species such as the weeping fig are slightly poisonous. The consumption of parts of the plant leads to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The edible fruits are excluded from this.

The plant purifies formaldehyde , xylenes and toluene from the air .

Systematics

Ficus benjamina belongs to the subgenus Urostigma (Gasparrini) Miq. in the genus Ficus L.

Many varieties are offered as ornamental plants , these are often sold with different names, some with the synonyms of the species, but some of them designate completely different species from the genus Ficus. Synonyms for Ficus benjamina L. are: Ficus comosa Roxb., Ficus nitida Thunb., Ficus pyrifolia Salisb., Ficus retusa var. Nitida (Thunb.) Miq.

literature

Abdul Ghafoor: Ficus benjamina in the Flora of Pakistan : Online.
Zhengyi Wu, Zhe-Kun Zhou & Michael G. Gilbert: Moraceae in the Flora of China , Volume 5, p. 45: Ficus benjamina - Online.

Web links

Commons : Weeping Fig - Album with pictures, videos and audio files

Wiktionary: Weeping fig - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Ficus FAQ - Frequently asked questions about the ficus

Individual evidence

^ Ficus benjamina at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
↑ Pottorff, L. Plants "Clean" Air Inside Our Homes. Colorado State University & Denver County Extension Master Gardener. 2010.
^ Wolverton, BC (1996) How to Grow Fresh Air . New York: Penguin Books.
^ Wolverton, BC and JD Wolverton. (1993). Plants and soil microorganisms: removal of formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia from the indoor environment. Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 38 (2), 11-15.
^ American Society for Horticultural Science. Indoor plants can reduce formaldehyde levels. ScienceDaily. February 20, 2009. Quote: "… Complete plants removed approximately 80% of the formaldehyde within 4 hours. Control chambers pumped with the same amount of formaldehyde, but not containing any plant parts, decreased by 7.3% during the day and 6 , 9% overnight within 5 hours ... "In reference to: Kim, JK, et al. (2008). Efficiency of volatile formaldehyde removal by indoor plants: contribution of aerial plant parts versus the root zone. Horticultural Science 133: 479-627.

[IPCN-1] Ficus benjamina at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis

[pot-2] Pottorff, L. Plants "Clean" Air Inside Our Homes. Colorado State University & Denver County Extension Master Gardener. 2010.

[Wolverton1996-3] Wolverton, BC (1996) How to Grow Fresh Air . New York: Penguin Books.

[Wolverton1993-4] Wolverton, BC and JD Wolverton. (1993). Plants and soil microorganisms: removal of formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia from the indoor environment. Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 38 (2), 11-15.

[5] American Society for Horticultural Science. Indoor plants can reduce formaldehyde levels. ScienceDaily. February 20, 2009. Quote: "… Complete plants removed approximately 80% of the formaldehyde within 4 hours. Control chambers pumped with the same amount of formaldehyde, but not containing any plant parts, decreased by 7.3% during the day and 6 , 9% overnight within 5 hours ... "In reference to: Kim, JK, et al. (2008). Efficiency of volatile formaldehyde removal by indoor plants: contribution of aerial plant parts versus the root zone. Horticultural Science 133: 479-627.