Punjab fig
Ficus palmata

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

This is the eastern form of the cultivated fig, Ficus carica. It is a shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows to about 4-8 m high. The twigs are furry. The bark is smooth and ashy or brown. The leaves are round and sometimes deeply lobed. There are teeth along the edge. The leaves have stalks. The leaves are 2.5-15 cm long by 3-13.5 cm wide. The figs occur singly and have stalks. They are downy. The figs are yellow-purple when ripe. They are 1-2.5 cm across.

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 subtropical plant. It grows in open places near watercourses. In Nepal it grows from 600-2700 m altitude. It is often on rocky slopes and in drier areas. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Afghanistan, Arabia, Asia, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Himalayas, India, Iran, Israel, Mediterranean, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, North Africa, Northeastern India, NW India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sikkim, Sinai, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Yemen

How it is used for food

The ripe fig fruit are eaten raw. They are used in drinks, jam and jelly and are also dried. The young shoots are cooked and eaten. They are boiled, fried and used as a green vegetable. The leaves are boiled for 2 hours to soften completely then eaten. The latex is used to curdle milk.

The leaves are sold in markets. The fruit are eaten raw, especially by children. They are a tasty fruit

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, latex

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds or cuttings.

In India fruit are available from February to July.

Its other names

Local names

Abjiri, Anjeeri, Anjiri, Areen, Balas, Bedu, Bedulo, Beles, Belese, Beru, Camera, Dagla, Fagu, Fagwara, Feru, Guma, Hamat, Hamat wahashi, Heiban, Ingar, Inzat, Inzar, Inzeer, Inzer, Kaimbar, Kala-thapan, Kamari, Kappa, Khasri, Khemri, Kock, Kok, Manmjedi, Nibhro, Pagoye, Pepri Kak, Phag, Phagoru, Phagwara, Phah, Phedu, Phegra, Pheru, Raggad, Sarmangol, Thapur, Togha, Warookay, Yekola-beles

Synonyms

Ficus caricoides Roxb.;? Ficus forskalaei Vahl; Ficus morifolia Forssk.; Ficus palmata Forssk. var, petitiana (A. Rich.) Fiori; Ficus pseudocarica Miq.; Ficus pseudocarica Miq. var. tomentosa A. Rich.; Ficus pseudosycomorus Miq.; Ficus virgata Wall. ex Roxb.;