Moreton Bay Fig Tree

Description:

A spectacular giant Fig Tree, 138 years old, still growing, flowering and producing fruit. A native of Eastern Australia, it is actually one of the strangler figs and would normally germinate in the branches of another tree with the seedling living on it's host until its roots reach the ground. It then slowly strangles it's host until it becomes a free standing tree. This one never had to strangle another tree. They are known for their spectacular buttress root systems. Like all figs, it has an obligate mutualism with fig wasps; figs are only pollinated by fig wasps, and fig wasps can only reproduce in fig flowers.

Habitat:

Within the City of Santa Barbara, California.

Notes:

In 1876, a visiting sailor from Australia presented the seedling of this Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Ficus macrophyllia) to a local girl who planted it in what would become Santa Barbara, California. This Australian immigrant tree has grown to be one of the largest Moreton Bay Fig Trees in North America. It is protected as a City Landmark and is on the California Register of Big Trees. In July, 1997, the circumference of the tree at 4 feet above ground was 41 ½ feet. The average Crown spread was 176 feet, with a total height of 80 feet. The tree was heavy with fruit in May 2014 and is cherished and strictly protected. It is located close to the Amtrack Train Station.