Ficus in Florida I. Australian Species

Abstract

Most species of the enormous genus Ficus seem to have fairly rigid continental limits so far as their natural distribution is concerned. Florida, however, particularly in those sections south of a line from Vero Beach on the east to Clearwater on the west, offers impartially a home to certain African, Asian, Australian, and Central and South American species in addition to its native fig-trees, Ficus aurea Nutt. and F. brevifolia Nutt. The exhibits in this informal state museum are concentrated in such places as Chapman Field, the plant introduction station of the United States Department of Agriculture located about seven miles south of Coconut Grove, in the McKee Jungle Gardens near Vero Beach, and in various nurseries: for example, the Royal Palm Nurseries near Oneco. They also are scattered throughout the area in parks, along roadsides, and on private estates. Some specimens still are small and have borne no fruit. Others, especially those planted years ago for their decorative value in Coconut Grove, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda and other places, have attained large size. Since the identity of most of these specimens is known, and because some of the species need new descriptions and their nomenclature requires renovation, the opportunity of combining field, herbarium and library investigations of trees and shrubs normally widely scattered has seemed one which should not be neglected. The principal objects of the following studies of Australian species of Ficus which have been introduced into Florida are: emphasis on correct names, according to the international rules of botanical nomenclature; collection and evaluation of alleged synonyms; descriptions from literature and first-hand observations; and location of specimens in Florida. The field observations have been made in many places from the Vero Beach-Clearwater line south as far as Chapman Field. This last station has by far the greatest numbers and varieties of Ficus. The herbaria consulted are those of the New York Botanical Garden; the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University at Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts; the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station at Gainesville, Florida; and the United States National Herbarium, Washington, D.C. The library work has been done mostly at the New York Botanical Garden, but also at the Arnold Arboretum. To those in charge of the plants and herbaria, and on the library staffs of the above institutions I want to express my thanks. I am grateful also to the persons who have acted as advisers, or as guides to public and private collections of Ficus: particularly to the late Dr. fohn Kunkel Small, formerly of the New York Botanical Garden; to Mrs. Charles T. Simpson, Mrs. Young C. Lott and Mr. Karl Dahlberg of Miami; to Mrs. Marian A. McAdow of Osprey, Florida; to