Rock fig, Small-leaved rock fig
Ficus tettensis

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A small sturdy fig. It is a shrub. It grows up to 5-7 m high. The bark is white or very pale grey. The stem and roots are often plastered over the rock face. The leaves are small and kidney shaped. They are 2-5 cm long. They are densely velvety. Underneath is pale grey. The base of lobed and the edges are wavy. The leaf stalk is 2.5 cm long. The figs are 10 mm across and hairy. They occur singly or in pairs in the axils of leaves. They are green to reddish when ripe.

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. It occurs on and in rocks. It can grow in arid places. In Zimbabwe it grows up to 1,310 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa,West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The pollinator wasp is Nigeriella excavata Compton.

Its other names

Local names

Ibozane, Inkiwanyane, Mudohonya, Umkululu, Umpayamputsane

Synonyms

Ficus smutsii Vendoorn.;