Facts About The Ficus Citrifolia Ficus citrofolia, commonly known as the shortleaf fig, giant bearded fig, Jagüey, wild banyan tree and Wimba tree, is originally a species of banyan native to southern Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and
northern South America south to Paraguay. It is quite different from its closely related Florida strangler fig (Ficus aurea) mainly by the finer veining in the leaves. Description of the tree
The Ficus citrifolia trees typically grow 15m (50 ft) tall, and may tend to cover a wide area due to their ability to drop aerial roots from branches and spread horizontally, fusing with the parent tree as they continue to grow.
These trees have a broad top, light grey bark, some aerial roots and milky sap. The leaves of this tree are dark green in color. They are oval shaped with a rounded base and pointed tip. The small flowers of this tree are
enclosed in open ended fruit, which can be seen on the ends of long stalks protruding from the leaf axils. The fruit turn from yellow to dark-red when it ripens. This fruit is sweet in taste and can be eaten raw. Ecology The new trees of this species begin their life as an epiphyte, a strategy which allows for them to avoid competition for light and land. Ficus citrifolia commonly attacks palms, bald cypress, oaks and other trees, strangling them as it grows.
Ficus citrifolia is under strong selective pressure to flower and produce fruit all year round due to its
mutualistic relationship with its pollinating agaonid wasp. The agaonid wasps have a symbiotic relationship with figs such that a given agaonid species acts as a pollinator for just one species of fig, and a particular fig species is pollinated by just one species of wasp.