Ficus

Ficus trees extend far beyond the reaches of history. Ficus trees are estimated to have been on earth for 60 to 80 million years. The fruit of the ficus are figs, which are thought to have been one of the first fruits cultivated by humans. One of the oldest ficus trees is in Sri Lanka. That tree was planted in 288 B.C.

Members of the genus are characterized by a unique pollination syndrome. Each species is pollinated by and houses the young of a species-specific wasp (see fig wasp). This remarkable pollination system has a fundamental impact on tropical forest ecology. When the pollen-bearing wasp leaves a Ficus plant, the fruit crop ripens quickly, providing a rich feast that attracts a host of mammals and birds. Moreover, as a consequence of the wasp’s short adult lifetime (as little as two days), there are some trees both receiving and releasing fig wasps throughout the year. This pattern results in a steady supply of fruit, making Ficus fruits a critical resource for many animals during times of food shortage. If the plants were to be cut out of a forest or the fig wasps were to somehow be removed, there would almost certainly be a dramatic reduction in animal life, as is suggested by the lower population densities of fruit-eating mammals on small islands that lack Ficus species.