AusBonsai

Collecting poo for seeds, that is what I call commitment
But I guess people collect and pay lots of money for some coffee beans that have been digested by little creatures (Luwak I think) so why not

LOL nice comparison! But not quiet the same. The flying foxes actually spit it out as the seeds take too long to digest and they only want the fruit. They put the whole fruit into their mouths, suck the juice and skin from it, then spit out a clump of seeds. I'm not sure how many people want to harvest from this area, but there are literally hundreds of thousands of these "musli bars", all with at least 400 seeds each. . . . .

JayC

Oops definitely not quite the same
I have a couple of mates whom have collected seeds from there and have had good success, Im pretty close to the Domain, so when I get time I might see what I can find...

Thanks again everyone, wealth of info here!
Thanks for clarifying that the bats spit the seeds out, at first I was assuming they ate the fruit whole, in haste, then with the aid of their digestive fluids broke down the seed coat (similar to the way some Acacias are aided by being digested) but if they spit them out (and they're ready to plant) I guess the seed coat isn't used for dormancy.
I will have to venture to the domain then to find some museli bars..
How do F. virens and F. coronata go as bonsai? I can't recall seeing them as bonsai.
Cheers again - Pat

Hi Pat,

I have yet to see Ficus virens as a bonsai, but Ficus coronata can look quiet nice. It is commonly known as the sandpaper fig, as its leaves are the same texture as sandpaper. Its bark is its main feature, being chocolate brown, not as grey as other figs. I believe Ray Nesci has some Ficus coronata at the moment, but it may pay to call up first and check.

JayC

bonscythe wrote:Thanks again everyone, wealth of info here!
Thanks for clarifying that the bats spit the seeds out, at first I was assuming they ate the fruit whole, in haste, then with the aid of their digestive fluids broke down the seed coat (similar to the way some Acacias are aided by being digested) but if they spit them out (and they're ready to plant) I guess the seed coat isn't used for dormancy.
I will have to venture to the domain then to find some museli bars..
How do F. virens and F. coronata go as bonsai? I can't recall seeing them as bonsai.
Cheers again - Pat

Centennial Park is another place to pick up these so called 'muesli bars'. Pick a tree you like and you can easily get >20 with a square meter or two. A month ago they were still everywhere (along with the acorns).

I wish there were seeds here. I ordered some seeds of Australian Figs from SA, but most of those seeds were floating. Hope they germinate.

If some have some extra of F. macrophylla, destruens, rubiginosa, virens for postage or something, send me a message.

I have been growing F. benghalensis and F. religiosa from seed, I have left overs I could trade.

stefano

I haven't tried seeds just yet, but at the school I go to I have seen seed clumps that looked a bit like musli bars, so I'll get some on monday if I can, but I was going to say that if you see germinated seeds in holes in the walls, you can successfully remove some, I pulled one last year and it's still alive * * so I can't complain. But if you have any success then hats off to you!

I am not in Australia, so the only Figs I see here growing in the street are Ficus carica!
I'd be willing to trade for some good fresh seeds.

If you see those seed clumps that look like granola bars can you also snap some photos?
thanks

stefano