large Ficus benjamina Cleveland QLD 447 points

Eric Frei

Here's a really cool candidate, I happened to write a report on this magnificent tree to save it from developers encroaching too close and ensure it's future in the design.

This is the Google maps location- 25 Passage Street Cleveland

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=25+...59.06,,0,-9.83

It was planted around 1860 as part of the commemorative plantings in the area that occurred around those times.

Here's the data on the tree:-

Measured April 2008
A whopping 8.236m circumference (324")
Height measured with clinometer is 30m (98')
And 1/4 average canopy spread is 25' (do note canopy spread was some 27.5m)

So, based on that I take it the points for this baby is 447 Which beats the Brisbane Botanical Gardens one which is only 421 points. LOL!!! I know that because I have checked that one out too and the tag on it says it was planted 1864.

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Sean Freeman

It is a lovely tree, and you should nominate it.

I have a great many figs through the Gold Coast region that could be included, many quite a bit bigger than that...

Derek is a lovely chap, and we all owe him quite a debt for starting the register...every person should be encouraged to go out into their yard, street, park and nature reserve and look afresh at their favourite trees.....is yours a potential champion?????

Eric Frei

Well, I got the record ... for now , however there is contention about how you measure the trunks of figs, especially curtain figs with aerial roots, Derek can expand on that.

The thing about this formula is circumference can rack up some points fast, each 1 inch of circumference is 1 point where as every 1 foot of tree height is 1 point, irony is that 1' of diameter is 3.1416" of circumference so dont overlook fat trees that aren't that tall.

I know you wanted to create a site like that Sean.... but on the upside it's sort of relieving to let some-one else handle the hassle. We can just focus on getting the data, and I got some cool toys for that these days.

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derekmcintosh

When it comes to developing a formula or guidelines for measuring the ficus family it is all hassle. I have not dealt with this propertly yet, but plan to do so in the next few months. I would have to say that curtain figs would be impossible to have a plausible and verifiable system.