Large-leaved rock fig
Ficus abutilifolia

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a shrub or medium sized tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 6-10 m high and spreads 6 m wide. It can also be a bush 3-4 m high. The crown can spread widely and the bush is almost round. The bark is smooth and creamy-white. The trunk is twisted and branches low down. The branches are stout. The leaves are large and almost round. The leaves are alternate and leathery. They have a deep notch in the base. They are bright green and the veins are red. The leaves are 5-15 cm long by 5-17 cm wide. The figs are on the ends of small branches in the axils of leaves. They are 1-1.6 cm across. They are smooth or slightly hairy. The fruit are figs produced either singly or in small groups. They are green with cream spots. They are red when ripe. They have a very short stalk.

There are about 800 Ficus species. They are mostly in the tropics. There are 120 Ficus species in tropical America.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It normally grows over rock outcrops in full sun. It is damaged by frost. It grows in dry areas. It can grow in arid places. It grows in savannah and is often on rocky sites. It grows from cracks and crevices and splits the rocks. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,360 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 9-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo DR, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. Figs can be dried and stored. Leaves are occasionally eaten. Aerial roots are eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, roots

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings. The seeds are small and need to be mixed with sand for sowing. Fresh seeds should be used. Seedlings transplant well. The pollinating wasps are Nigeriella fusciceps Wiebes and Elisabethiella comptoni Wiebes.

Seedlings grow slowly at first.

Its other names

Local names

Danehi, Fatuma bidia, Foloka, Grootblaarrotsvy, Gyedua, Hobanhobata, Mfawa, Mubungu-bungu, Yandi

Synonyms

Ficus discifera Warb.; Ficus kerstingii Hutch.; Ficus ledermannii Hutch.; Ficus mittuensis Warb.; Ficus picta T. Sim; Ficus soldanella Warb.; Urostigma abutilifolium Miq.;