AusBonsai

I've had this for awhile. Collected fron some neighbours that binned it (was a neglected bonsai that had broken its pot and was growing into the ground). Always thought it was a PJ. I'm less convinced. Absolutely no velvety texture under the leaves like my other PJs. And quite large leaves too (reduce well). I noticed the other day red petioles and had always had a few red tip sheaths too. Would love your thoughts on what it is...

No need to comment on styling, this is currently being fused with some cuttings and being grown hard.

Rusty, I'd say its PJ's larger leaved cousin, the Moreton Bay fig.

You could try to defoliate in the coming summer months to see if the leaves might reduce in size, I have had some success with leaf reduction in this species.

Thanks Paul! I considered the MB. But I have read somewhere that a true MB is virtually useless for Bonsai because of internode length. The nodes on this are fine

I guess they're figs though and the Aussie ones seem very diverse genetically....

The other thing that steered me away from the MB was the red petioles and sheath tips. Seems like that's a feature of Eugeniodes but the leaves on this seen way too large for that. But haven't found a description of the MB featuring those colourings....

PJs have a very large natural range and cosequently there are slight differences in plants from different areas. Only a few of my PJs have velvety undersides. The rest look very like this one. I'd say PJ.

shibui wrote:PJs have a very large natural range and cosequently there are slight differences in plants from different areas. Only a few of my PJs have velvety undersides. The rest look very like this one. I'd say PJ.

Thanks Shibui. This was my feeling actually. And if it weren't for the red petioles and sheaths I would have been more certain. I guess genetic and regional variation accounts for it. Thanks again.

How much time will it take to bear a fruit ?

Gerald, welcome to the forum! You're right if it was in fruit a more certain ID could be obtained. In answer to your question I don't know. I would expect awhile. And it would probably hinder leaf and branch growth. But I'll watch out.

I have seedling grown bonsai figs about 30 years old and none of them have ver attempted to fruit.
I have some others that are cutting grown from a mature tree and all of them produce fruit every year. They have been slower to thicken and ramify but not sure if this is related to fruiting or just the variety.

Although I have seen red petioles on a number of different figs, this one could possible be a Ficus Eugenoides, or what we commonly call a Queensland Small Leaf Fig. I had a P.J. that used to throw red petioles sometimes, depending on what and when I fed it. Very confusing these figs are.......................................

To my mind that is definately a PJ much like the ones i have. My PJ throws red petioles all the time as a matter of course for the tree and the underside of the leaves does not have the normal rusty type of look, yet some of my other PJ's do....

Could be either Ficus watkinsiana the Strangler Fig (similar to Moreton Bay in leaf size but without the rusty undersides) or Ficus rubiginosa.
Ficus eugenioides is now called Ficus obliqua and is a small leaved species so it is not F. obliqua.

Thanks BB. Coincidentally here is a picture I took today of a new leaf. Look at the colour of the petiole!

I knew eugeniodes has been assumed into the obliqua name. Seems a little strange since the classic eugeniodes description is quite different to the obliqua. But I'm not botanist so will leave it to the experts.

Could also be Ficus rubiginosa it is hard to get the size of the leaves from your photos.
information on the NSW species is here http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-b ... name=Ficus

bonsaibontanist wrote:Could also be Ficus rubiginosa it is hard to get the size of the leaves from your photos.
information on the NSW species is here http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-b ... name=Ficus

Thanks BB. That's a good link. Some of the leaves are over 10cm long. Some smaller. Seems to fit Watkinsiana, but petioles are too short for Morton Bay. Leaf size seems too big for rubiginosa, but maybe a large leafed form. Think I'll have to leave the ID up in the air until i get fruit on it (if i ever do).

Thanks for the help.