Jamaica fig, West Indian laurel fig
Ficus americana

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a shrub or tree. It can be 30 m tall. The trunk can be 30 cm across. The leaves are 2-8 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. The figs occur in pairs in the axils of leaves. They are 3-7 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Amazon, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Caribbean, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, South America (country/location of origin), Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The flowers are pollinated by the fig wasp Pegoscapus clusiifolidis.

Its other names

Local names

Matapalo, Renaco

Synonyms

Ficus chiriquiana (Miq.) Miq.; Ficus eugeniaefolia (Liebm.) Hemsl.; Ficus georgii Standl. & L. O. Williams; Urostigma eugeniaefolium Liebm.; and many others