Ficus ovata

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A tree that is a strangler fig. It starts attached to other plants. It grows 12 m high. It has a straight trunk and broad crown. The branches are stout. There are hanging aerial roots. The bark is rough and has cracks along it. They are narrowly oval to oblong and 10-30 cm long by 6-20 cm wide. The fruit (figs) are in the axils of leaves and occur singly or in pairs. They are oval and 3 cm long. They have cream spots and short hairs.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in damp sites in the dry zone forest in West Africa. It often grows on oil palm. It is often on termite mounts. They grow between 1,100-1,750 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Congo R, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

The inner bark is sweet and is chewed with kola. The fruit are eaten raw.

The fruit are eaten especially by children. It is often planted.

Edible parts

Bark, fruit

How it is grown

The wasp pollinator is Courtella hamifera.

Its other names

Local names

Cilemba, Dioge, Dualim-o, Kobo, Sholla, Warka, Warka fere

Synonyms

Ficus brachypoda Hutch.;