Bird fig tree
Ficus sinuata

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a shrub or small tree. It grows 2-6 m tall. It can be attached to other plants. The branches are drooping. The leaves are narrowly oval and 5-20 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. The fruit is a fig. It is a flattened round shape and 1 cm across. It grows in the axils of leaves. It is orange-red. There are usually 2-6 fruit together.

There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in forest up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Indochina, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and by air-layering. Fruit are fertilised by a particular wasp.

Its other names

Local names

Buah ara burung, Kesenai, Mepai

Synonyms

Ficus rostrata Lamk.; Ficus cuspidata Reinw. ex Blume;