Ficus Benjamina (Weeping Fig)
This fig is considered a native although these species are also found throughout Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, India and China. Birds feeding on the small, fleshy fruit of this fig, deposit undigested seed on other trees. The seed may then germinate and euentually develop long aerial roots in order to obtain nutrients from the soil as well as to support its heavy crown. Ficus benjamina are attractive shade trees and are long lived. This ficus will outlive the adjacent Samanea samans to become a large shade tree for The Mall. The artwork on the curved wall beneath this fig is from the 1998 upgrade of The Mall and has been preserved due to its cultural and artistic significance.