Ficus opposita
| Sweet sandpaper fig | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Moraceae |
| Genus: | Ficus |
| Subgenus: | F. subg. Sycidium |
| Species: | F. opposita
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ficus opposita Miq. | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Ficus opposita is one of several
sandpaper figs. It is native to the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia.Other common names include sweet sandpaper fig,[1] sweet fig[1] and the ambiguous "figwood" and "watery fig".[2]
It grows as either a shrub or small tree.[1] As the figs ripen, their colour changes from green to yellow to reddish-brown and finally, to black.[1] The fruit is edible and palatable, tastier than most other fig species.[3]
It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the Queensland butterfly the common- or purple moonbeam (Philiris innotatus).[4]
The leaves on this plant can treat skin infections such as tinea.[citation needed]
Shown to hybridise with Ficus coronulata.[5]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-207-16930-6.
- ^ "Ficus opposita". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
- ^ Lindsay, Lenore (March 1992). "Fancy a feast? Try a fig". Australian Plants. 16 (130): 251–52.
- ISBN 0-643-09027-4.
- ISSN 1446-5701.
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