AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 



11 



FICUS (the old Latin name, akin to the Greek sfukon 

 or sukon, a fig ; the Fig-tree has nearly the same name in 

 all the European languages). Fig-tree. ORD. Urticacea. 

 An extensive genus of usually stove or greenhouse trees 

 or shrubs. Flowers monoecious, inserted upon the interior 

 surface of a hollow, globular or pear-shaped fleshy recep- 

 tacle, in whose tip is an orifice closed with small scales ; 

 those in the upper part male, the rest female. Very 

 ornamental plants, of easy culture. They are readily 

 propagated by cuttings or eyes, having a leaf attached 

 in the case of the evergreen species, inserted in a 

 close frame inside a propagating house, in early spring. 



Ficus continued. 



small pot. It succeeds well in a greenhouse, and also 

 outside in summer. Any of the species of Ficus do well 

 in sandy loam, with the addition of a little leaf soil, and 

 only small pots, in comparison to the size of plant, need 

 be used. Plenty of syringing, or occasional sponging, will 

 keep the leaves clean, and almost any amount of water 

 may be applied to the roots. The species , which grow 

 on walls are the best of inside plants that could be used 

 for the purpose, as, once started, they soon cover a con- 

 siderable space and always present a lively green appear- 

 ance. For culture of F . Carica, see Tig. 



Fio. 12. TERMINAL SHOOT OF Ficus EXSCULPTA. 



F . elastica is one of the most ornamental and extensively- 

 grown species, and a plant that withstands confinement 

 in rooms better, perhaps, than any other. It is also 

 well adapted for stove or greenhouse decoration, and for 

 sub-tropical gardening in summer outside. Shoots 1ft. 

 long, if furnished with leaves, soon root, and form useful 

 plants much quicker than eyes, which, however, have the 

 advantage of increasing a much larger quantity. Small 

 specimens are most attractive when restricted to a single 

 stem. These may be afterwards grown into tall branched 

 plants if desired, by keeping them several years and pinch- 

 ing out the points. F. Chauvieri is a fine species that 

 forms a large bush, even when grown in a comparatively 



F. acuminata (sharp-pointed). A, perianth three-cleft or three- 

 partite, with the segments lanceolate and acuminated. Recep- 

 tacle solitary, axillary, globose, pendent, of a deep bright 

 orange colour, somewhat mealy and tuberculated on the surface, 

 and terminating a stalk longer than itself. I. 4m or 5 n. ^long, 

 somewhat coriaceous, elliptical, petiolated, veiny, glabrous above, 

 and full green, downy beneath, with the veins , prominent Stem 

 (under cultivation in this country) 5ft. to 6ft. high. Silhet, 1855. 

 (B. M. 5282.) 



F barbata (bearded).* I. dark green, cordate, about 3in. long; 

 ape^ Sated ; edges clothed with long brown hairs. East 

 Indies 1832. A handsome plant for covering the walls of 

 stoves ; it has a creeping and rooting habit, similar to Ivy. 



F benlamina. Benjamin-tree. Receptacles solitary, or in pairs, 

 globular, about Ain. in diameter when ripe. l._ ovate, or ovate- 

 oblong, acuminate, shortly stalked, 2in. to 4m. long, entire, 



