Drupe fig, Red fig, Rusty Fig
Ficus destruens
Family: Moraceae
What it is like
A fig. It is a tree up to 30 m high. It often occurs as a strangler. It has a rounded or spreading bushy crown. It can spread 15-30 m wide. Young branches are covered with rusty hairs. The leaves are simple and 9-25 cm long by 8-10 cm wide. The leaves are leathery and blunt. There are rusty hairs underneath the leaf. The leaves are crowded towards the ends of branches. The leaf stalks are 8-10 cm long. The fruit are 10-17 mm across. They occur singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. The surface of the fruit is covered with small rusty hairs. The fruit are edible.
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. They grow naturally in rainforests in Queensland in Australia. It grows from sea level to 1200 m altitude. In Townsville palmetum. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin), SE Asia, Singapore
How it is used for food
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or from aerial layers. It can be grown from cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Boonjee fig, Strangler Fig