Common yellow stem fig
Ficus fistulosa

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small tree. It is evergreen. It is 10-15 m high. The trunk is 15-30 cm across. The sexes are separate. The bark is dark brown. The small branches are coarse. The leafy structures near the base of the leaves are oval and about 1.7 cm long. The leaf stalk is 1.5-4 cm long. The leaves are alternate. The leaf blade is oblong and 10-20 cm long by 4-7 cm wide. They are papery. They are slightly hairy underneath. The base is wedge shaped but unequal. The tip is sharp. The figs are in clusters on small outgrowths from old stems. They are orange red when mature and round but flattened. They are 1.5-2 cm across. They are smooth. The stalk is 0.8-2.4 cm long. Male and gall flowers are in the same fig with the male flowers near the opening.

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. In China it grows in forest and along streams and on rocks in S China. It is shade tolerant. It grows between 200-600 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Nicobar, Northeastern India, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

Young leaves are eaten in salads. The young figs are eaten raw or cooked in curries.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds. It can be planted by stem cuttings or air layering.

Its other names

Local names

Ara serapat, Benying, Buruni-buruni, Ching khao, Ching, Kalapong, Kelampong bukit, Kedampul, Kujanjing, Labe, Lolo, Maduea plong, Mak war, Mobopu, Peelasa, Pohon ara kujajing, Sekuduk'en, Semantung, Shui tong mu, Sung rung, Tibig, Weelada, Wilada

Synonyms

Covellia subopposita Miq.; Covellia tuberculata Miq.; Ficus condensa King; Ficus curranii Merr.; Ficus fistulosa var. angustifolia Miq.; Ficus fistulosa var. cincta Hochr.; Ficus fistulosa var. lucbanensis (Elmer) Corner; Ficus fistulosa var. obliqua Miq.; Ficus fistulosa var. tengerensis (Miq.) Kuntze; Ficus grandidens Merr.; Ficus harlandii Benth.; Ficus lucbanensis Elmer; Ficus millingtonifolia Griff.; Ficus polysyce Ridl.; Ficus repandifolia Elmer; Ficus rubrovenia Merr.; Ficus tengerensis Miq.; Ficus tuberculata (Miq.) Miq.;