How to tell the difference between PJ fig & Moreton Bay fig?

[hugh grant]

I have loads of figs at home but I've never really thought to think what variety they are. So how do you tell if they're a port Jackson fig or Moreton Bay fig? I know they're etheir one of those because I've never bought any other variety and most of them are the same.

Thanks,
Hugh

[Ash]

Hello Hugh,
This topic has come up before and you will find plenty of information if you go on a deep dig through the posts. I am hurrying out the door otherwise I would dig up some pics- hope to put them on latter-

Ficus macrophylla the 'Moreton Bay Fig' is a tree with very large leaves (15 cm +++) and long petioles, the leaves have anastomosed (matted intertwinded) hairs on the undersurface and a nearly glossy upper surface to the leaf. This gives the undersurface a smooth brown look and feel and without a lense you cannot easily see the hairs it just looks thin and brown. The syconium (fig) is large ~ 2 cm across and is produced on a long peduncule about the same length as the fig. They are commonly slightly hairy. Although it is a common street tree it is very uncommonly used as bonsai. I have not seen a single true Ficus macrophylla 'Moreton Bay Fig' posted on ausbonsai yet and have not seen one figured in a book. Most have been misidentifications of Ficus rubiginosa which is extremely variable.

Ficus rubiginosa the 'Port Jackson' or 'Rock Breaker' or 'Rusty Fig' etc etc. is an extremely variable plant owing to its interesting population dynamics and its wide range from Coastal NSW near the Vic Boarder to Cape York. Its leaves are smaller than those of F. macrophylla but are quite variable in shape. The undersurface of most populations has a thin felt of rusty brown hairs. Some are totally lacking in hairs and shiny. The syconia (figs) and usually less than about 2 cm and are born on a short peduncle less than half the diameter of the fig. They are usually slightly hairy. It is very commonly used as bonsai and in bonsai circles F. rubiginosa is given a wide variety of common names. Large leafed forms are often erroneously called 'Moreton Bays'. My guess is that most of your variations will by Ficus rubiginosa originating from different places.

There are plenty of other figs in this section too- Ficus obliqua the Queensland Small Leaf (QSL) is another east coast species and F. watkinsiana another with big leaves. In the wet tropical north you will get Ficus destruens, F. crassipes, F. pleurocarpa and F. triradiata, to the North and west in drier places you will get Ficus platypoda, F. atricha, F. brachypoda, F. lilliputiana. Other than QSLThey are not common in bonsai but many would be worth a go. QSL is also called Ficus eugenioides by many people.

best regards
Ash

[hugh grant]

Thanks Ash I can see where I was getting confused with my identifying. I knew that the figs with a brown rusty colour on the leaves where port Jackson but that's only 3 of my figs, so I wasn't sure if the others were or not which have a light green underside. So they all must be port Jackson then.

Hugh

[Taffy]

QSL is also called Ficus eugenioides by many people.

This one keeps coming up. As far as I'm concerned, I have both Obliqua and Eugenoides. Eugenoides generally has red petioles and tip sheaths, Obliqua has green petioles and tip sheaths. If you look closely at the leaves there is also a variance there as well.

The two may be very closely related and do appear to be cross pollinating, so eventually will most likely become one 'mixed' species in the future.

At the moment, I - and a lot of others that have them still believe them to be two separate species.

[Ash]

I only just found this reply Taffy,
Yes there is a lot of variation- remember names are just a hypothesis. Quite a few people have commented to me that they have two types of Queensland small leaf fig. I only have the one and have not seen the other so sorry I can't help out there with which one is which. I would be very interested to know where they come from and to see them and maybe get one of the other type sometime.

best regards
Ash

QSL is also called Ficus eugenioides by many people.

This one keeps coming up. As far as I'm concerned, I have both Obliqua and Eugenoides. Eugenoides generally has red petioles and tip sheaths, Obliqua has green petioles and tip sheaths. If you look closely at the leaves there is also a variance there as well.

The two may be very closely related and do appear to be cross pollinating, so eventually will most likely become one 'mixed' species in the future.

At the moment, I - and a lot of others that have them still believe them to be two separate species.

[Taffy]

No problems Ash.
Does your QSL have green petioles and green sheaths on the new tips? If it does, then I'll take cuttings or an air-layer on the one with red petioles and red sheaths. If you have the red ones, then I'll do the same with the green ones instead. When they are growing ok, I'll get in touch and if you pm me your address I'd be happy to send a few up to you.

[Fish]

Well I got totally confused in all that. green with red, red with green..lol

So there is a QSL fig second variety. Might have to check my little ones. I am pretty sure that i have Pot Belly, now I have two PJ and one variegated benjamin (as identified by Taffy,thanks mate)

Still chasing a Moreton though.

Fish

[stefpix]

Thanks for the clear information. I am about to order some seeds and I was going to get F. macrophylla, F. rubiginosa, F. abutifolia and F. destruens.

It is hard for me to see the difference in the photos I have found online between the F. macrophylla and F. destruens. Can someone elaborate, provide some info or a good link? Which species are best for growing aerial roots?

I have been growing some nice saplings from seed of F. bengalensis and F. religiosa. Will maybe bonsai a couple in a year or two.

The F. bengalensis develops a nice caudex. Which of the Australian species I mentioned develop a caudiciform trunk?

thanks

stefano

[Rory]

I am not sure if anyone cares about this thread anymore, but I too for a long time wondered how you can tell the difference without using a microscope etc etc.

Megumi Bennet from Bonsai Art in Terry Hills, said there is a much easier way to tell the difference between Port Jackson Fig and Moreton Bay Fig.

A mature Port Jackson Fig leaf starts with a V shape at the base of the leaf.
A mature Moreton Bay Fig leaf starts with a W shape at the bast of the leaf.

She showed me the difference, and on the mature leaves it is fairly easy to identify.

[marleey73]

They say that the Moreton Bay Fig doesn't have the same leaf reduction in size as does the Port Jackson. So the Port Jackson is better for bonsai? True or False

[ToddB]

This is my fig.

I purchased it from a Coles supermarket nursery for $1.50 three years ago. It was 5cm tubestock labelled as a 'Moreton-Bay' fig...but I've since wondered as to whether in fact it might be a Port-Jackson. My interpretation of the above description though, especially with respect to the underside of the leaves, leads me to believe that it might be a 'Moreton-Bay' after all.

It's now 1.8m high and powering on. Not quite sure what I'm going to do with it yet. My original intention had been to let it develop and then bonsai it, but it's looking so nice, I might just leave her 'as is'. Thanks very much ! .

P.S the reduction in leaf size is due to some tip-pinching I did about 18 months ago. Leaves were very large prior to this.

[Rory]

This is my fig.

It was 5cm tubestock labelled as a 'Moreton-Bay' fig...but I've since wondered as to whether in fact it might be a Port-Jackson. My interpretation of the above description though, especially with respect to the underside of the leaves, leads me to believe that it might be a 'Moreton-Bay' after all.

That is not a moreton bay fig. Probably PJ, but I can assure you it is not a Moreton Bay.

[ToddB]

This is my fig.

It was 5cm tubestock labelled as a 'Moreton-Bay' fig...but I've since wondered as to whether in fact it might be a Port-Jackson. My interpretation of the above description though, especially with respect to the underside of the leaves, leads me to believe that it might be a 'Moreton-Bay' after all.

That is not a moreton bay fig. Probably PJ, but I can assure you it is not a Moreton Bay.

No...? Oh well, thanks for the input. I'll carry on with my original assumption i.e. that's it's most likely a PJ