Kurbo, Jiu ding rong
Ficus nervosa

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a tree. The leaf stalk is 1-2 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and 6-15 cm long and 2.5-5 cm across. It is thinly leathery. It is dark green on top and dark with small scattered lumps underneath. The base is round, the edges curl and the tip is sharp. There are 7-11 side veins each side of the main vein. These are easy to see underneath. The figs occur either singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. They are round and 1-1.2 cm across. They are lumpy when young. They do not have a stalk but the fruit narrow looking like a stalk. Male, gall and female flowers occur in the same fig.

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. They grow between 400-1600 m altitude in S China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Andaman Is, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten. They are sweet. The young leaves are eaten fresh as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

In southern China plants flower from January to August.

Its other names

Local names

Khanpati dimoru, Mai-hong, Nyaung-peinne, Thebu

Synonyms

Ficus blinii H. Leveille & Vaniot; Urostigma nervosum (Roth.) Miquel;