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Tuesday 25 September 2018
Fig plant
Growing from the river wall in Todmorden is this Fig plant. It will be a Ficus but what species I don't know. Is wild Fig unusual in Calderdale---there is a colony of it in Sheffield.
There are (or were) others in Calderdale, one on the opposite side of the canal from the towpath Just below Cromwell Bottom Nature reserve, and one a long time ago which got very large, on the banks of the Hebble at Siddal Bottoms, by the bridge.
Murgatroyd (1994) lists "several trees" and has it as Ficus carica.
Beautiful plants - perhaps they will bear fruit as the climate warms, though I understand a tiny wasp species has to pollinate the flowers, except in the case of the cultivated, self-fertile varieties.
There is/was a large one on the river bank by Milner Royd HWRC and another on the bank in Sowerby Bridge. The fruits get quite large but maybe don't ripen.
There are (or were) others in Calderdale, one on the opposite side of the canal from the towpath Just below Cromwell Bottom Nature reserve, and one a long time ago which got very large, on the banks of the Hebble at Siddal Bottoms, by the bridge.
ReplyDeleteMurgatroyd (1994) lists "several trees" and has it as Ficus carica.
Beautiful plants - perhaps they will bear fruit as the climate warms, though I understand a tiny wasp species has to pollinate the flowers, except in the case of the cultivated, self-fertile varieties.
Thanks for the information Steve--we may see more if the summers get warmer.
ReplyDeleteThere is/was a large one on the river bank by Milner Royd HWRC and another on the bank in Sowerby Bridge. The fruits get quite large but maybe don't ripen.
ReplyDelete