Hard skin fig
Ficus callosa

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a large tree. It grows 25-35 m tall. The trunk is 25-35 cm across. The bark is hard and grey. The leafy growths at the base of the leaves are oval, hairy and 1-1.8 cm long. The leaf stalk is 3-9 cm long. The leaves are a dark green and smooth and shiny on the top surface. They are pale green underneath. They have a blunt point and are rounded at the base. The leaves are 15-30 cm long by 7-20 cm wide. They are leathery. The fruit are borne in the upper leaf axils. They are often in pairs. They are 2 to 3 cm across. They are pale green but become yellow when mature.

There are about 800-1000 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America. The wood is used for furniture.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They occur in the Philippines from Isabela, Bataan, Camarines, Mindoro, Palawan, Cebu and Mindanao Provinces. In China it grows on the edges of forests and is also cultivated between 600-800 m in S China. In XTBG Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are mixed with rice to give flavour. The leaves are cooked and eaten. They are also cooked with tomato. The fruit are cooked and eaten.

Leaves are sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - flavouring, fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Callose-leafed fig, Kalukoi, Palelang, Paleng, Pohon ara pangsar, Shiny-leafed fig, Wo ni qie, Ying bi rong

Synonyms

Ficus basidentula Miquel;