Dwarf fig
Ficus pygmaea

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a shrub. It grows in water. It forms thickets. It grows 1.5 m high. The young branches are dark brown. The leaves are narrowly oval and 3-10 cm long. They are a dark grey-green above and paler underneath. They have a rough surface and teeth along the edge. The fruit are figs that occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are 1-2 cm across and covered with coarse hairs.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid areas with a marked dry season. It grows in rocky and sandy soils. It grows in permanent watercourses and in marshes and swampy areas. It grows between 950-1,200 m above sea level. It re-grows after fire. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Botswana, Congo DR, East Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves are cooked as a vegetable. The fruit is eaten as a snack.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

The pollinator wasp is Kradibia gestroi afrum (Wiebes).

Its other names

Local names

Kuzukuha, Mulivilivi, Pygmy fig

Synonyms

Ficus brevicula Hiern;