Re: Mystery tree
- Subject: Re: Mystery tree
- From: &* E* <e*@iinet.net.au>
- Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 14:35:15 +1100
The leaves definitely look like F. macrophylla (Moreton Bay Fig). Does it
have the characteristic buttressed roots?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kurt Mize" <k1mize@aol.com>
To: <kaktussy@cox.net>
Cc: "Joseph Seals" <thegardenguru@yahoo.com>; "B. Garcia"
<paroxytone@gmail.com>; "Medit-Plants Plants" <Medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Thursday, October 27, 2011 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: Mystery tree
The seeds I tried of the Lord Howe Island subspecies had a nearly 100%
germination rate. The trick is keeping them alive.
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 26, 2011, at 1:14 PM, <kaktussy@cox.net> wrote:
Purely a rhetorical question, but I wonder how many cv.'s might be out
there.. I would assume the vast majority of 'good' speciens are
propagated vegetatively, not from seed.. I suggest this because my own
experience in trying to cultivate a few spp. the results are usually in
the less than 80% germination range..
FWIW,
Mark in SD
---- Joseph Seals <thegardenguru@yahoo.com> wrote:
Barry, et al:
Another option would be Ficus macrophylla. I initially ruled it out
because
a) I've never seen one growing with that kind of rounded structure
b) most specimens of F. macrophylla have a slight rustiness to the bottom
of the leaf (although not as much as Ficus rubiginosa)
There are some very large specimens of Ficus elastica in microclimates in
Santa Maria (SWGB Zone 16). None as large as the one in your pic but
Santa Maria doesn't have the horticultural culture history of Monterey.
Monterey is also the milder Zone 17.
Most people know Ficus elastica from the many "colorful" large-leafed
cultivars. The species, planted many years ago throughout California,
has smallish leaves (relative for a Ficus), dark green above, somewhat
paler beneath.
Joe
Joseph Seals
Consultant
Arroyo Grande, California
Cell: 805-823-5696
New book: "Central Coast Gardening Essentials"
more info at: www.centralcoastkitchenandgarden.com
________________________________
From: B. Garcia <paroxytone@gmail.com>
To: Medit-Plants Plants <Medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 9:16 PM
Subject: Re: Mystery tree
Seems it's almost certainly a ficus. Also interesting if it's F. elastica
since that may be the only tree sized specimen of one around here!
Then again, there *was* a very tall Caryota ochlandra in the courtyard of
the Pacific House, so Monterey is full of neat botanical surprises.
On Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 4:46 PM, Joseph Seals <thegardenguru@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Barry:
I'm thinking it's a very nicely and regularly pruned Ficus elastica.
Joe
