Ficus opposita

Taxobox
name = Sandpaper Fig


image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Urticales
familia = Moraceae
genus = "Ficus"
species = "F. opposita"
binomial = "Ficus opposita"
binomial_authority = Miq.
synonyms =

*"Ficus aculeata" var. "micracantha" (Miq.) Benth.
*"Ficus aculeata" Miq.
*"Ficus apolepomena" Summerh.
*"Ficus branderhorstii" Diels
*"Ficus conjugata" Miq.
*"Ficus fitzalanii" Miq.
*"Ficus micracantha" Miq.
*"Ficus opposita" var. micracantha (Miq.) Corner
*"Ficus orbicularis" A.Cunn. ex Miq.
*"Ficus xerophila" Domin
*"Ficus yarrabensis" Domin

"Ficus opposita" is one of several fig species commonly known as Sandpaper Figs. It is native to the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia.Other common names incude Sweet Sandpaper Fig Sandpaper, Figwood Sweet Fig and Watery Fig.APNI | name = "Ficus opposita" | id = 38038]

It grows as either a shrub or small tree. As the figs ripen, their colour changes from green to yellow to reddish-brown and finally, to black.cite book|author=Low, T.| title=Wild Food Plants Of Australia| publisher=Angus & Robertson|location= Australia | year=1991 | id=ISBN 0207169306] The fruit is edible and palatable, tastier than most other fig species. [cite journal |last=Lindsay |first=Lenore|year=1992 |month=March |title=Fancy a feast? Try a fig. |journal=Australian Plants |volume=16 |issue=130 |pages=251-52]

It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the Queensland butterfly the Common- or Purple Moonbeam ("Philiris innotatus"), [cite book |title=The Complete Field Guide to Butterflies of Australia |last=Braby |first=Michael F.|year=2005 |publisher=CSIRO Publishing |location=Collingwood, Victoria |isbn=0-643-09027-4 |pages=p. 228]

References