Charles wrote:
On Tue, 19 May 2009 16:38:27 -0700, David Green
wrote:

Charles wrote:
On Tue, 19 May 2009 10:16:54 -0700, David Green
wrote:

Anyone know the particular species name of the famous LA ficus trees
that were planted in the 50's and 60's, produced huge amounts of shade,
gobbled up all the smog, and are now outgrowing their sidewalks, causing
buckling of the concrete, and are now being gradually removed from the
city? They're in the genus Ficus; but what's the species name, the
other half of the scientific name.

They used F. microcarpa here, some argument about nitida. The two are
quite similar.

I thought mine should have been named myriacarpa, there was so much
fruit covering the sidewalk and street.

Near LA, in Ventura county.
Thanks for the info. Do you by any chance know how to distinguish
nitida from microcarpa?

There may not be a difference. The one reference I have that
addresses is says that Ficus microcarpa nitida has no botanical
standing.

Ficus retusa is apparently a synonym for the same plant.
Or Ficus retusa nitida.

Check http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/r...microcarpa.pdf

Thanks again. Thanks for the reference document. I'm now seeing a lot
of stuff on the Net that makes sense. Apparently this species produces
aerial roots, but not in the typical So. Cal. dry, sunny environment. I
hate to see these trees taken out. One of the things this city needs
is more shade, rather than less. I've noticed that in some
neighborhoods they enlarge the space in the sidewalk, apparently also
wanting to keep these trees. But, I have a feeling the ones in
Hollywood are doomed to be taken out at some point in the near future.