Keywords:Lord Howe Banyan, Australia, Ficus, Ficus macrophylla forma. columnaris, Lord Howe Island, Moraceae
Ficus macrophylla forma. columnaris - Lord Howe Banyan
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Family : Moraceae
The arial roots of this massive buttressed Lord Howe Island endemic tree drop down to the ground and eventually become support trunks in their own right .
Reportedly the most cold tolerant of the figs,it is a massive speading tree but unlike Ficus Virens (The Northern Banyan) it has no discernable central origin. It will grow up to 20 metres in height and from those I saw,a single tree can cover an area of something like 2 hectares with massive post like roots hanging down to the ground supporting the weighty spreading branches.
Usually it can be found associated with Howea forsteriana (Kentia Palm) in the lowland forests but can grow up to 500m on the sides of Mt Lidgbird and Mt Gower. There are some good examples on the golf course. The local birds such as the Lord Howe Currawong relish the ripe purple fruits. This fig is far too big for planting anywhere where it cannot be given room to eventually spread.