Herbario Virtual del Mediterráneo Occidental
Àrea de Botànica, Departament de Biologia, Universitat de les Illes Balears
Ficus benjamina L.
Family : MORACEAE
Genus : Ficus
Catalan common name : Ficus petit.
Spanish common name : Árbol benjamín. Benjamina. Matapalo.
General distribution : Asia
Life-forms : Macrophanerophyte.
Observations : Widely used as an ornamental plant.
Origen : India
Location on-campus UIB : Poc freqüent, es pot observar al Claustre de l'edifici Ramón Llull.
Description : An evergreen tree which grows 4-6m high in our area, with a dense crown and small, hanging branches; it is very ornamental. It has smooth, grey bark and alternate leaves, 10-12 cm long, which are oval-eliptical in shape and have a bright green surface. The tip is quite acuminate, the base is rounded and its texture is a little coriaceous. It has long petioles, 2.5 cm long, which are glabrous. The fruits are axillary, sessile, between globular and oblong, around one cm in diameter, and purplish-red when ripe, contrasting with the green foliage.
