Ficus populifolia

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a bush or tree. It can be 20 m tall. It can at first grow attached to other plants. The crown has drooping branches.

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 rock terrain in West Africa

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Arabia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo, East Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Middle East, Niger, Nigeria, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, West Africa, Yemen

How it is used for food

The gum is chewed. The ripe fruit are eaten.

The figs are not commonly used.

Edible parts

Fruit, gum, resin

How it is grown

The pollinator wasp is Nigeriella scindura van Noort.

Its other names

Local names

Bijahi, Garmeisa, Mgagatya, Xamash

Synonyms

Ficus vasta;