r 



r 



/ 



/ 



/ 



4 



/ 



26 MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 



fig. 2). In dense hammocks F. aurea seems to grow onl}^ as 

 an epiphyte at the start, although eventually all trace of this 

 habit is lost. In open places, however, it is often independent 

 from the first (plate 3). It is often set out as a street or yard 

 tree in Miami (plate 5, fig. 2), Such trees have a single 



and rounded 



mental at first. 



send 



down rootlets from their branches. These, upon taking root, 

 enlarge rapidly, so that the local name for the tree, wild 

 banyan, is not at all inr 



The 



from 



% 



(plate 4, fig. 1) or crotches of branches, or the axils of the 

 palmetto leaves, probably through the agency of birds, as 

 these are very fond of the fruits. The young seedlings grow 

 slowly at first. Soon the roots begin to elongate rapidly, 

 remaining of small diameter and growing downward in close 

 contact with the bark or even swinging loosely. Only when 

 the roots have established connection with the ground does 

 the growlh of the plant bc^come rapid. The roots then in- 

 crease in thickness very rapidly and new roots are sent down. 

 These anastomose wherever they come into contact, forming 

 a close network around the trunk of the doomed supporting 

 tree. Soon the thickening roots close up all the holes, 



firm tube 



growth 



girdling it for a long distance up and down the trunk. The 

 palmetto is an exception, however, for, since the stem does 

 not increase in thickness, it suffers no immediate inconvenience 

 and may remain alive for years after its trunk is firmly en- 

 cased by the fused roots. Eventually, however, it will be 

 so overtopped and shaded by the Ficus that it dies, but this 

 may not be for many years. In old age a tree of Ficus aurea 

 will have many root trunks and may have a spread of 25 

 meters or even more, and a height of over 15 meters. 



Both F, aurea and F. populnca have two or more crops of 

 fruits in a year. In the former spc^cies the receptacles are 

 sessile, in pairs in the leaf axils (plate G), in the latter they 

 are long stalked, single or in pairs (plate 7). Both species 

 bclons: to the section Urostiama. and have staminatc and seed 





