Google Answers Logo
View Question
 
Q: Plant Mateirals ( Answered 5 out of 5 stars,   1 Comment )
Question  
Subject: Plant Mateirals
Category: Science > Agriculture and Farming
Asked by: sosim3-ga
List Price: $20.00
Posted: 29 Dec 2004 22:25 PST
Expires: 28 Jan 2005 22:25 PST
Question ID: 449082
Where do I get information on plant materials?  Specifically, I need
information on a plant "ficus barteri" (common name, banana fig). 
Plant care, size, height, growing zones, etc.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Plant Mateirals
Answered By: librariankt-ga on 18 Jan 2005 10:30 PST
Rated:5 out of 5 stars
 
Hi Sosim3,

In my experience, nurseries that sell plants usually have decent
information on the growth requirements and statistics that you've
asked for here.  It helps to know the binomial for the plant - which
you've given as Ficus barteri.  I've seen some references that suggest
that this may be known by other names as well - F. irregularis and F.
longifolia among them - but feel that F. barteri is well-known as a
standard name.  Botany can be confusing when people name the same
species with several different things!

This tree is native to West Africa, and grows in tropical climates,
zone 10+.  It likes full sun and moderate watering.  It grows to about
10 meters - approx 30-40 feet - and likes humidity.  It will grow
indoors given a moist atmosphere (it looks like misting will keep it
happy) and full sun.

The Plant World Nursery has clear instructions on care when F. barteri
is used as an indoor specimen:
http://www.plantworldnursery.com/publishingdirectory/subs/varietysubs/ficus/ficusbarteri.htm

Here is the official description of the type specimen (the one that
defines all others - kind of like the "perfect tree"):
"Tree up to 10 m. tall, hemi-epiphytic, or a shrub. Leafy twigs 3?5
mm. thick, glabrous, periderm not flaking off. Leaves spirally
arranged; lamina lanceolate to linear, or less often oblong to
elliptic, (5.5)10?18(30) x 1.5?3.5(7) cm., coriaceous; apex acuminate
to subacute; base acute to rounded; margin entire; both surfaces
glabrous; lateral veins 10?20 pairs, tertiary venation reticulate or
parallel to the lateral veins; petiole 1?4.5 cm. long, c. 2 mm. thick,
epidermis not flaking off when dry; stipules 5?20 mm. long, glabrous,
caducous. Figs in pairs in the leaf axils; peduncle (5)10?25 mm. long;
basal bracts 1.5?2 mm. long, caducous. Receptacle globose, 1?1.5 cm.
in diam. when fresh, c. 0.5?1 cm. in diam. when dry, glabrous, smooth
to verruculose, yellow to orange at maturity."

I found this description at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Flora
Zambesica website: http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/efloras/namedetail.do?qry=namelist&flora=fz&taxon=100&nameid=480
 I recognize that botanical Latin can be a bit daunting - you can
probably ignore most of the description as it deals with leaf, flower,
and fruit characteristics.

This page also gives information and pictures of the tree:

Fig Web: South Africa
http://www.figweb.org/Ficus/Subgenus_Urostigma/Section_Galoglychia/Subsection_Cyathistipulae/Ficus_barteri.htm

To find this information I worked through the results found by doing a
Google search for "Ficus barteri".  If you're looking for general
information about fig trees, I suggest you look for Ficus benjamina -
this is the tree that is usually sold as a houseplant.

Please let me know if there's further information about this tree that
I can find for you!

Librariankt
sosim3-ga rated this answer:5 out of 5 stars

Comments  
Subject: Re: Plant Mateirals
From: sunspot53-ga on 30 Dec 2004 05:26 PST
 
I am not a researcher but the information that i have is it is related
to the Strangler Fig.
http://www.nparks.gov.sg/nursery/spe_by_search_details.asp?specode=7019&searchdetail=detail#

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully the Google Answers Terms of Service.

If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by emailing us at answers-support@google.com with the question ID listed above. Thank you.
Search Google Answers for
Google Answers  


Google Home - Answers FAQ - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy