F fraseri is very similar to F coronata and F oposita and is a riparian species. Jane

Jane,
some of the time riparian species are so because thats the only vegetatation left!
Ficus fraseri grows all over the place and isnt restricted to riparian habitats (you probably meant this) but only a handful of rainforest species are true riparian specialists.
F.fraseri grows up to at least 800m in NQLD.
In NE NSW I have seen it mostly away from creeks.
F.coronata certainly prefers creeks and drainage lines but also isnt restricted to this habitat.
Ficus opposita is an almost mongrel plant and grows on rocks and everywhere that is of a drier niche.

Sorry Popi no photo but what do you want to know?

Kris

Hi Kris

That is a good point about the riparian zone.

My interest in this Ficus, is I would like to collect seeds, and I cant find anything about it in my reference books. I guess I will just keep looking.

Does it look like Ficus coronata?

Thanks for your help.

Popi

A photo of this tree (which apparently also grows in New Caledonia!) can be found at the following link:

Here is a link that might be useful: Ficus fraseri

Has anyone tried eating the fruit of a sandpaper fig?

A few points...

I am familiar with F. fraseri at its southern limit, which is North Entrance on the NSW central coast. It's fairly common in the small patches of littoral rainforest just north of the new Magenta Shores resort on both sides of the main road.

I have not tasted fruit of F. fraseri but the other NSW sandpaper fig F. coronata has the best-tasting fruit of any of the native figs I have tried, at least when fully ripe. But that's only the best of a bad lot!

F. fraseri is distinguishable from F. coronata by its slightly larger and thinner leaves, often with deep indentations in the margin at least on juvenile plants.

Thanks Tony

I know that area, I will have a look around, although its national park, so wont be able to collect seed.

Its well worth propagating, though, very attractive plant.

I didn't know that F.coronata tastes nice, I will endevour to eat some next time I see some.

Popi

Ficus fraseri is also unusual among figs in having clear sap. The "sandpaper" is finer than on F. coronata, and it makes a somewhat larger plant, but still in the category of "small tree". Coronata fruits are hairy (like all parts of the tree, and fraseri fruits are hairless. They go from green through yellow to black when ripe. I think they'd be ripening about now (if not finished).
Does the "Brisrain" site have a picture? I haven't looked, but this is a very good site for information on rainforest plants.
Most figs are hopeless in anything but a huge garden because of the invasive water-hunting root system but I believe coronata and fraseri are both OK in this respect - 5m from foundations and drainage pipes is said to be enough. As Wooroonooran says, it grows well away from wet sites, and it seems to be pretty drought hardy here.
Good luck with the seed-hunt.
Trish