Saraca fig
Ficus lepicarpa

Family: Moraceae

What it is like

A fig. It is a small tree. It grows 5-15 m tall. The leaves are alternate and simple. The leaves are broadly oval and 11-32 cm long by 4-15 cm wide. The fruit is a fig. It is oval and 1-3 cm across. It is yellow-brown. There are often 1-2 together in the axils of leaves along the twigs.

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 mostly grows along streams. It grows in humid forests and on rocky banks of rivers. It grows up to 1,700 m above sea level. It can be on limestone.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Indochina, Indonesia (country/location of origin), Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, SE Asia, Thailand

How it is used for food

The young shoots are eaten raw as a vegetable. The fruit are eaten.

Edible parts

Leaves, fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ara, Benjing, Benjing tjaj, Bisoro, Buku-buku, Chalukpho, Engeruoh, Kara, Kelupang gajah, Krerungan, Luwing, Lyubyub etem, Sengkoak, Sulu-talobog, Wilada banju

Synonyms

Covellia didyma Miq.; Covellia lepicarpa (Blume) Miq.; Covellia volkameriifolia Wall. ex Miq.; Ficus lepicarpa var. brevibracteata Corner; Ficus lepicarpa var. pedunculata Corner; Ficus lepicarpa var. suluensis Corner; Ficus lepicarpa var. bunjeng Solms; Ficus malaica Hunter ex Ridl.; Ficus volkameriifolia (Wall. ex Miq.) Miq.;