Curtain Fig Tree

This article is about the individual strangler fig tree. For the species commonly known as "curtain fig", see Ficus microcarpa.

Curtain Fig Tree

Creation of the Curtain Fig Tree

The Curtain Fig Tree is one of the largest trees in Tropical North Queensland, Australia, and one of the best known attractions on the Atherton Tableland. It is located just out of Yungaburra.

The Curtain Fig Tree is of the strangler fig species Ficus virens. Normally these figs germinate on top of another tree and try to grow roots into the ground. Once this important step is accomplished, the fig will grow vigorously, finally kill the hosting tree and then grow on independently. In this case, the hosting tree tilted towards the next one; the fig also grows around that one. Its curtain of aerial roots drops 15 metres (49 feet) to the ground.^[1]

Although these figs kill their hosts, they are an epiphyte which basically feeds from the ground, unlike a parasitic plant which feeds from the sap of the host plant/tree.

References

↑ "The Curtain Fig Tree". Rain Forest Australia. Retrieved December 11, 2014.

Atherton Tableland

Schools	Atherton State High School Jubilee Christian College Mareeba State High School St Stephen's Catholic College

Attractions	Curtain Fig Tree Davies Creek Lake Tinaroo Lake Eacham Lake Barrine Mount Hypipamee Crater Mount Quincan Seven Sisters Windy Hill

Waterfalls	Barron Blencoe Clamshell Crystal Davies Creek Falls Dinner Herbert River Falls Josephine Kearneys Malanda Millaa Millaa Millstream Murray Stoney Creek Falls Surprise Creek Falls Tchupala Tinaroo Tully Wallaman Whites Wongalee

Towns	Atherton Dimbulah Herberton Irvinebank Kairi Kuranda Mareeba Malanda Millaa Millaa Mutchilba Ravenshoe Tinaroo Tolga Walkamin Yungaburra

Local Government Areas	Tablelands

Coordinates: 17°17′9″S 145°34′25″E / 17.28583°S 145.57361°E / -17.28583; 145.57361

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