Fig leaf - Ficus carica - shape, venation, margin, texture

 Fig leaves are probably most famous for the biblical mention of Adam and Eve covering themselves with these leaves after they sinned.  Personally I can´t imagine anyone wearing these rather rough and sandpaper textured leaves.  Or perhaps the first couple covered themselves with the leaves of another member of the ficus family.  These fig leaves come from the Edible Fig - Ficus carica.  As can be seen from the images Fig leaves are very deeply "lobed".  The edible fig does drop it leaves each year.  The image below is of the autumn colors.

 The following image shows the bright green color of the fig leaf as well as its lumpy surface.  What is not see easy to see from the image is its rough, sandpaper like texture on the top side.

 The image below is of the reverse (underside) of the leaf, which is a lighter green color and is also rough but with stiff pubescent hairs.  It is also very "rugose" with the veins being very visible and pronounced.

 The venation of the fig leaf is "reticulate" with the secondary veins forming a network pattern. Each of the lobes also has a main vein that branches of from the rachis.

 The margin is "serrate" with rounded teeth that point slightly forward.

Summary...
Shape: Lobate
Margin: Serrate
Consistency: thick and stiff
Venation: Reticulate
Texture top side: Rugose
Texture reverse: Pubescent
Color: bright green, yellow-orange in autumn
Petiole: 2-6cm

One fig growing out from inside another

 I came across a fig tree with a bumper "breva" (first crop) crop of figs.  As I was taking some pictures I noticed several figs where on fig was growing out from the inside of another fig forming a sort of double fig.  The images speak for themselves.

First Fruits of the Fig Tree - Breva crop

 The Common Fig (Ficus Carica) tree produces two crops of figs each year.  The first crop, which grows on the previous years shoot growth is called the "breva" crop (from the Spanish term) or the "First Fruits" crop.  In Italian these first figs are called "Fioroni".  These first fruits of the fig tree are larger than the normal figs and often present with a different color.  They are also less sweet and a bit dryer.  They are however prized for their size which can approach that of a medium sized pear.  "Brevas" are usually harvested between June and July while the main crop is harvested in August and September.  The main crop of figs grows in the current years shoot growth.

It is not uncommon to see the main crop of figs growing while the Breva figs are ripe for harvest.  In the top image of this post you can see how the Breva fig is growing from the previous years branch growth and the newer main crop is growing on the new branch shoot.

Indoor Fiddle Leaf Fig care tips

The Fiddle Leaf Fig tree is commonly used as an indoor potted plant. It is relatively easy to care for, has large beautiful leaves and has a slow rate of growth. In this post I will list seven tips for caring for this tree species in an indoor environment as well as links to sites with more information.

Tip #One
Make sure your plant has right amount of light. Abundant but not direct light is recommended. Too little light will cause the plant to loose leaves and thin out. It also tends to grow towards the light giving the impression that it is leaning. Rotate the plant every so often to keep it growing straight and to ensure bushiness.

Tip #Two
Don´t over water the plant. The Fiddle leaf fig does well with short dry periods between waterings. The frequency of watering depends on the amount of light the plant gets. One good way to determine how often you should water is to let the pot dry out until the new growth at the top begins to wilt slightly. Calculate the time that elapsed from the last watering and subtract a day or two to determine the ideal frequency of watering. This way you will be watering the plant just before it starts to wilt the next time.
Read more at...
http://www.farmlifenursery.com/Web%20pages/Lyrata%20care.htm

Tip #Three
Prune to encourage branching and bushiness. The Fiddle leaf fig tends to grow a tall single stem when indoors. This long stem will normally not be able to keep itself upright and will require some sort of support. To encourage a more "tree like" form prune the plant at a desirable hight while the plant is still fairly young. It is recommended to do this in early spring before the new growth forms.
Read more at...
http://www.marketblooms.com/plantcare/pdf/FiddleLeafFig.pdf

Tip #Four
Be careful not to expose the plant to dry heat or drafts. Like other Ficus tree plants the Fiddle leaf fig has a tendency to drop its leaves when exposed to too much dry heat or drafts and go into a sort of dormant recovery mode for a period of time. Some figs such as the Sacred Fig will do this as part of their normal growth cycle just prior to the growth of new leaves.

Tip # Five
Clean the dust of the leaves once in a while to allow the plant to absorb as much light as possible. Often in indoor settings a layer of dust builds up on the leaves without our being aware of it and reduces the effective light that the plant gets. Every so often gently clean the leaves of with a soft cloth. Don´t try to do this with your hands as rubbing the leaves can damage them slightly and cause them to bleed little drops of white milky sap. Use latex gloves if you are allergic to this plant.

Tip #Six
Move your plant to an outdoor setting during the summer so that it can get more light. If you do this however transition it back indoors gradually at the end of the summer to avoid shocking the plant.

Tip #Seven
Trim the roots every year or two. The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a tree capable of growing to 40-50 feet tall with a normal root system for a tree that size. When roots grow in a small container they have little room to grow in and end up wrapping around the base of the container or growing out the bottom of the pot. Trimming the root system back during the dormant season will help keep the plant growth slow and will help maintain healthy roots.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/houseplt/msg0718401415535.html

http://plantcareguru.com/plant_care/fiddle_leaf_fig.php

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Over the years I have focused on taking pictures of trees and focusing on the interesting details and facts about trees.  My two son's have grown up watchin their dad take pictures of trees and often going along on hikes to find some new tree.  Now my oldest son has taken an active interest in photography and has created his own website.  Manuel Livingstone Photogrpahy.

What are Banyan trees?

The term “Banyan” is used to refer to several species of trees from the genus “ficus” (figs). The common trait that sets apart figs as Banyans is the ability to send down “aerial roots” from the main branches which in time grow into new trunks or merge with the main trunk creating a massive tangled bulk that can reach diameters up to 8 meters wide. The most common of these species is the Ficus benghalensis, called the Indian Banyan or Bengal Fig. The largest of these is found in India and has more than 2880 proproots that have formed new trunks!

Another fig species that is often referred to as “Banyans” is Ficus Macrophylla which goes by the common name Moreton Bay Fig. The images in this post are of some large Moreton Bay figs that I photographed in the city of Malaga in Spain. In the image above you can see some aerial roots that have grown from the underside of a large branch.

In the image above you can make out the shape of the leaves and fruit. The leaves are simple in shape and are dark green and smooth. The measure about 15-20 cm in length. The fruits are small "figs" but are not edible like some of the other members of the ficus genus. (ie ficus carica).

Another characteristic of the Moreton Bay Fig are large buttress roots that serve as additional support. These roots that protrude above the ground an extend quite a ways our from the base of the tree as you can see in the image above.

Another fig species that sends down aerial roots and can have a similar appearance is the Ficus Elastica or Rubber tree.