Dye fig
Ficus tinctoria

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small tree or shrub 2-4 m high. It can climb and scramble over other plants and be up to 10 m high. The small branches are rough. The small branchlets are yellow or pale brown. The bark is grey or brown and cracked or flaky. The leafy structure at the base of the leaves is sword shaped and 5-10 mm long and thick. The leaves of the tree are yellowish with purple veins and short leaf stalks. The leaves are 4-13 cm long and 2-6 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 0.6-1 cm long. Male and female flowers occur on separate plants. The figs are in the leaf axils and up to 2 cm across and orange coloured. There are some varieties described based on the size of the plant and the size of the figs.

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. Trees are common on limestone or coral rocks near the sea shore. It tends to be on coral soils. In the Pacific it grows from sea level to 750 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

American Samoa, Asia, Australia, Bhutan, Caroline Islands, China, Chuuk, Cook Is., East Timor, FSM, Fiji, Guam, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Northeastern India, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, Rotuma, Samoa, SE Asia (country/location of origin), Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna

How it is used for food

The young tips are picked and eaten. The fruit are eaten cooked. They are often cooked in coconut milk. They can be dried and crushed and made into a puree by sweetening with coconut toddy.

Mostly reported as a wild occasional food on the Gazelle Peninsula and New Ireland in Papua New Guinea. It is an important food in Kiribati, Tuvalu and Micronesia.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves

How it is grown

It normally grows wild. It grows from seed. It can also be grown from cuttings.

In Australia, fruit are produced in May to July.

Its other names

Local names

Awal, Awan, Awann, Awen, Coain, Felo, Gawal, Guwan, Gawann, Hawan, Hmei-thai-thei, Hoda, Hodda, Hotda, Howel, Kiro kesik, Mai-hai-sa-pye, Mati, Mok, Nihn, Nin, Nunu, Nyaung-thabye, Oseked, Oseched, Savirewa, Srah, Tagete, Topdo, Te bero, Topodo, 'U'apea, Wach'guy, Wachaguy, Xie ye rong

Synonyms

Ficus chlorosykon Rechinger; Ficus validinervis Benth.;