Brown-woolly fig, Hairy Fig, Drupe Fig, Red Fig
Ficus drupacea

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small to medium sized tree. It grows 10-15 m high. It has a spreading bushy crown. It has strangling roots but not aerial roots. There are prop roots near the base. The trunk is short and irregular. The bark is grey and smooth. The young shoots have dense rusty coloured hairs. The leaf stalk is 2.5-3 cm long. The leaves are simple and 8-18 cm long by 4-9 cm wide. They are oval but narrow abruptly at each end. They are dark green and leathery. Underneath they are more yellowish brown. Young leaves have rusty hairs while mature leaves are smooth. The fig or receptacle is 1.5-2 cm across. They are round and in the axils of leaves on young shoots. They occur either singly or in pairs. They ripen from orange to dark red. They are edible. There are some varieties described based on the hairiness of the leaves.

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

It is a tropical plant. It grows naturally in the rainforest. In China it grows in mountain forests and along streams between 100-1500 m altitude in S China. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, East Timor, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Puerto Rico, SE Asia, Sikkim, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Torres Strait, USA, Vietnam, West Indies

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. The fruit have been used for jelly and for wine.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by using aerial layering.

Its other names

Local names

Akar piangu antan, Balete, Bhurvar, Bulu timun, Goni, Haimi, Kabai, Kiara gambir, Kiara wunuk, Krang-baikhon, Lungkhon, Nonok, Payapa, Sagaing, Taninthayi, Zhen guo rong

Synonyms

Ficus mysoriensis Heyne ex Roth.; Ficus cotoneaefolia Vahl.; Ficus payapa Blanco; Ficus pilosa Reinw. ex Blume; Urostigma pilosum (Blume) Miq.