Ficus macrophylla, Remarkable tree in Cádiz, Spain
The Ficus macrophylla is a tree of notable size growing in Cádiz, found mainly near the Alameda de Apodaca and beside the former Hospital de Mora, now a university faculty building. Its trunk is thick and textured, its branches spread wide, and its large, glossy leaves are dark green on top with a rusty tone underneath.
The specimens beside the former Hospital de Mora were planted in 1903, shortly after the hospital opened, and have stood in the same spot ever since. Over more than a century, they came to be seen as part of the natural heritage of the city.
The Ficus macrophylla is tied to a local legend: two nuns returning from Australia are said to have brought the saplings with them, fell ill on the journey, and died in the nearby hospital. The trees were planted in their memory, and many people in Cádiz know the story and pass it along.
The trees can be visited on foot by walking along the Alameda de Apodaca or heading to the area near the former Hospital de Mora. The space around them has been made pedestrian-friendly, so getting close and looking at the trunks and roots is easy.
The Ficus macrophylla is native to Australia and belongs to the strangler fig family: its aerial roots grow downward over time and thicken into what look like extra trunks. In Cádiz, these roots are visible at the base of some specimens, giving the trees a look that is easy to spot even from a distance.
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