Back on La Pigna hill in Sanremo...

I've already reported a first visit up to the Sanremo ancient area in
a previous post. I was recently back there and up the hill to enjoy
its particular atmosphere and take a closer look to the huge fig trees
that thrust their roots into the crevices of that rocky ground.


The Ficus macrophilla, commonly known as the Moreton Bay fig is a
large evergreen banyan tree of the Moraceae family, subsection of the
Malvantherae.


Its specific epithet macrophylla is derived from the ancient Greek makro
(large) and phyllon (leaf) and refers to the size of the leaves.






The characteristic "melting" appearance of the Ficus macrophylla is due
to its habit of dropping aerial roots from its branches which on reaching
the ground thicken into supplementary trunks which help to support the
great weight of its crown.


The trunk can be massive, with thick, prominent structure and a rough
grey-brown bark. Some trees can reach heights of 60 m.


Currently the tallest Moreton Bay Fig (49 m) is found near Egg Rock, in
Queensland, Australia, but even Europe exhibits some sizeable
naturalized specimen.
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