This is one of the commonest of the fig trees, chiefly occurring in towns where it is planted for its shade. It is the densest of all the shade trees and readily identified by its very large, spherical or flat-topped crown of darkest green, and heart-shaped leaves. It branches not above 10 feet from the ground and innumerable straight branches extend in every direction to form the dense, superficial crown. In form it differs from _F. Thonningii_ in being flatter topped and not so tall, the crown being umbrella-shaped. The trunk of an old tree may be of great size and is built up of many aerial stems formed from the growth downwards of the aerial roots which anchor themselves to the soil or hang in festoons from the branches. A network of roots may often be seen spreading several feet round the base of the tree. =The Bark= is smooth and light in colour and creeping down it or suspended from it are the aerial roots, red at the tips. The bark yields a copious flow of milky sap. =The Leaves= are heart-shaped with a prominent tip and a waved edge, are dark green and shining above, smooth beneath, with the main veins raised on both surfaces. They have a 2 inch stalk and are 4-5 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. They are pendulous. =The Figs= are single or in pairs on the wood of the branches and are very numerous, clustering all round the branches. They are about 1¼ inches in diameter and have square, twisted stalks over an inch long. They ripen in January. =Uses.=—It is planted, from poles, solely for its shade and in old towns trees may be found with a shade diameter of 100 feet. The figs are sometimes chewed by the native but not swallowed. [Illustration] =FICUS THONNINGII= Blume.—_Chediya_. MORACEAE. This species, somewhat similar to _F. polita_, is also commonest met with in towns, where it is grown for its shade. In form it differs from _F. polita_ in that it reaches a greater height, 60 feet being not unusual, and has, as a rule, a spherical, rounded-topped crown. Numerous straight branches ascend from a large, short stem and, bearing their leaves at the ends, form a dense, superficial crown. The stem itself is, as in the case of _F. polita_, composed of a large number of aerial roots which have grown downwards from the branches and entered the ground, eventually combining with the stem to form a gigantic whole. Where the main stem branches, a dense mass of small aerial roots is often in evidence. The species is commonly seen in the act of strangling another tree in some fork of which the seed has originally lodged and about which it has twined its aerials till the host is completely enveloped. It is a fast growing species and readily propagated from a branch length placed upright in the ground. =The Bark= is light grey and smooth and a copious flow of milky sap will pour from a cut.