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Creeping Fig

Ficus Pumila

Description:

I found a weird pod-like fruity thing on the ground. When I looked up, all I could see were a tree and what seemed to be a parasitic vine. I supposed the fruit body came from the vine because oak trees, last time I checked, do not produce green fruity things. I took a picture of what looked sort of like one up in the vines but it was too far to see clinging vines with aerial rootlets along the stem On second examination, I discovered that rather than being a fruit, the pod is a flower. Look at the cross section. The pink part is the anther/ ovary and the white closest to the end/ flat part is actually a group of petals.

Habitat:

I think that's an oak tree

Notes:

http://procezzed.blogspot.com/2012/02/po... Identified through a bit of navigation on the internet and the incredible help of florida33girl. http://www.projectnoah.org/users/florida...

1 Species ID Suggestions

Strangler Fig Fruit
Ficus aurea Floridata: Ficus aurea


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5 Comments

Agustín Amenabar L
Agustín Amenabar L 11 years ago

Craig! thanks for the fantastic video, I knew figs had a symbiotic relation with a species of wasp, but never knew the actual details.

craigwilliams
craigwilliams 11 years ago

Wow! I didn't realise Ficus pumila got so big. I've only ever seen the juvenile form.
Figs are actually a whole inflorescence of many tiny flowers. It's one of the most remarkable pollination strategies and a great example of a symbiotic relationship. This clip shows just how astonishing it is, but it might put you off eating figs a bit! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfkiYfrSt...

Psilo
Psilo 12 years ago

!! So I discovered it's identity, with your help of course! It's a ficus pumila. Also known as the climbing fig. If you had not helped me get started I may have never figured it out. So, thank you! Very much appreciate it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficus_pumil...

Psilo
Psilo 12 years ago

!! interesting! I'm going to look into it Ill let you know what I determine! thank you so much!

florida33girl
florida33girl 12 years ago

I'm taking a bit of a guess on this one, but that looks like it could be Florida Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea) growing on the oak. I'm having trouble finding a picture of the fruit, but the description at the link I provided sounds a lot like what you've got here. Hope this helps!

Psilo
Spotted by
Psilo

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Spotted on Feb 21, 2012
Submitted on Feb 23, 2012

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