Family: Moraceae
Ficus altissima is pollinated by a species of agaonid wasp. With the introduction of pollinator wasps in Florida, this, and other species of Ficus, began to establish and spread, damaging walls, bridges, and other stone or concrete structures. It is also capable of establishing in and potentially strangling other trees, and could become a landscaping or environmental weed.
High Risk Traits:
- Broad elevation range and potential environmental versatility
- Reported to be naturalized in Florida, Tanzania and perhaps elsewhere (but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date)
- In Florida, a damaging weed of overpasses, bridges, walls, buildings and other concrete or stone structures
- A potential landscaping and environmental weed that can establish in and smother other landscaping and ornamental trees.
- Other Ficus species are invasive weeds.
- Sap potentially toxic or allergenic to animals and people (unconfirmed)
- Shade tolerant
- Tolerates many soil types.
- Hemiepiphytic, and potentially strangling or smothering growth habit
- Reproduces by seeds when pollinator (agaonid wasp - Euptistina altissima) is present.
- Seeds dispersed by birds, other frugivorous animals, and through intentional cultivation.
- Prolific seed production (when pollinator is present)
- Tolerates heavy grazing, mowing and fire.
- Tolerates pruning, and cutting and will regrow without herbicide application.
Low Risk Traits:
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Fruit, and foliage, may be palatable to browsing animals.
- Non-seeding in the absence of specialized pollinator wasp
- Individual trees generally produce syconia in synchronous crops (preventing self-pollination)
- Herbicides may provide effective control.
