Moreton Bay Fig - Ficus macrophylla

Moreton Bay Fig.

An impressive giant tree which has been found to grow to 60m (approx. 200 ft) in the wild.

Its common name is derived from Moreton Bay in Queensland. The genus Ficus consists of about 800 species distributed throughout India, parts of Asia, the Pacific islands and Australia. There are about 40 Australian species most of which are found in tropical areas.

Tree and plant identification is an important bushcraft skill enabling you to locate valuable resources such as edible or medicinal items and many different materials for practical applications such as friction fire and cordage making.

It’s quite an interesting experience when I visit a new country and do not recognise most of the trees and plants I see. It creates a disturbing feeling of being lost and disconnected from my surroundings. So when I travel to new places I find it fascinating exploring and discovering the native flora and it’s bushcraft uses.

Whilst visiting Australia I've been struck by the variety of different native trees and plants most of which are completely new to me.

After a little filming and research I’ve produced a series of 60 second films showcasing some of the things I’ve learnt. I’ve chosen several plants and trees which seem to be a very common sight on the east coast of Australia including a few of particular interest to me.