Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla forma macrophylla) by Poytr One of the largest of the Moreton Bay figs in Sydney. Likely planted in the 1840s to 1860s, this tree has grown better than many others. With massive near horizontal low branches and a full canopy 50 metres across. This species is popular, with widespread plantings in the 19th century in Australia. In the wild, a similar old rainforest tree would be on a stem of up to 40 metres in length. Here, as the tree is out in the open, there is no stem. As there is no need for extra height to reach the sunlight. The ability of the limbs to bear such heavy loads testifies to how well designed the low branches must be. The form of the lower part of the tree resembles muscle and power in animals. The branches in this photo resemble muscular limbs. This individual plant has remarkable strength. Sydney occasionally has extremely high winds, and this old tree seems to have defied all of them. Despite that, the area is now fenced off, as the gardens suspect the tree might lose limbs in high winds in the future. https://flic.kr/p/2h3Z1y4
