Crown-fruited fig
Ficus scassellati

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a large strangler. It grows 30-40 m high. The bark is pale grey. The leaves are large and oval. They are 17 cm long by 7.5 cm wide. They are thick and dark glossy green. They are paler underneath. They taper slightly to the base. The edges are slightly wavy. The leaf stalk is 2 cm long. The figs are 2 cm across. They are warty. They occur singly in the leaf axils. The fruit are green tinged with purple.

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 evergreen forest. It grows up to 1,800 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Ficus kirkii Hutch.; Ficus michelsonii Boutique & J. Leonard;