9*. D'thaaman

I am a D'thaaman (Aboriginal name from the Sydney area) [1]
Port Jackson Fig/ Rusty-leaved Fig
Ficus rubiginosa

I am a large tree, up to 50m and my buttressed trunk can grow to 2m wide.
I have grey bark. My leaves have a rust-coloured under-surface. [2]
I have been well established at this site in the 1930s.[8]

There are four Port Jackson Figs on the grounds. In the early to mid-20th century, I was known as the climbing tree. I have featured in Tantrum Youth Arts production, Mapping the Lake.

I can live for over 100 years. I am best suited to large gardens and parks and my tiny flowers are pollinated by wasps. Birds and Flying Foxes love my fig fruits [2] which ripen between January to July. [3]

​My home range is all along the coast of New South Wales and moving west along the Warrumbungle Ranges to the Narrabri district. [4] I can be found all along the Queensland coastline and westward. [5]

Ficus rubiginosa distribution. Source: PlantNET

I provide shade [3] and can be grown into a bonsai tree. [6]

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References:
1. Robinson L. 2003 Field Guide to the Native Plants of Sydney.  Kangaroo Press, Sydney
2. Holl & Hill 1979 A field Guide to Australian Trees Rigby Ltd
3. Hornsby Shire Council
hornsby.nsw.gov.au/_resources/documents/environment/idigenous-trees/Fact-sheet-Ficus-rubiginosa-Port-Jackson-Fig.pdf
​4. PlantNET plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Ficus~rubiginosa
5. Dixon D.J., Jackes B.R., Beilig L.M. 2001 Figuring out the Figs: the Ficus obliqua-rubiginosa Complex Australian Systematic Botany 14, 133-154 CSIRO Collingwood, VIC
6. Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) Accessed 7 June 2022
anpsa.org.au/APOL2007/jun07-1.
7. Tantrum Youth Arts Accessed 7 June 2022
tantrum.org.au/projects/mapping-the-lake 
​8. Braye descendent interview, email correspondence, March 2023